diff --git a/projects/03_coffee_shop_full_stack/starter_code/backend/src/api.py b/projects/03_coffee_shop_full_stack/starter_code/backend/src/api.py
index 6e0f634fb9e..003e0373a21 100755
--- a/projects/03_coffee_shop_full_stack/starter_code/backend/src/api.py
+++ b/projects/03_coffee_shop_full_stack/starter_code/backend/src/api.py
@@ -112,3 +112,7 @@ def unprocessable(error):
 @TODO implement error handler for AuthError
     error handler should conform to general task above
 '''
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    app.debug = True
+    app.run()