diff --git a/backend/configure.py b/backend/configure.py
index ee26cac..e027805 100755
--- a/backend/configure.py
+++ b/backend/configure.py
@@ -8,32 +8,41 @@ import dotenv
 from django.db import transaction, IntegrityError
 
 
-def yesno(prompt, default=False):
-    if not sys.stdin.isatty():
-        return default
-    yes = {'yes', 'y', 'ye'}
-    no = {'no', 'n'}
+class CmdCtx:
 
-    if default:
-        yes.add('')
-    else:
-        no.add('')
+    def __init__(self, args):
+        self.args = args
 
-    hint = ' [Y/n] ' if default else ' [y/N] '
-
-    while True:
-        choice = input(prompt + hint).lower()
-        if choice in yes:
+    def yesno(self, prompt, default=False):
+        if not sys.stdin.isatty() or self.args.noninteractive:
+            return default
+        elif self.args.yes:
             return True
-        elif choice in no:
+        elif self.args.no:
             return False
+        yes = {'yes', 'y', 'ye'}
+        no = {'no', 'n'}
+
+        if default:
+            yes.add('')
         else:
-            print('Please respond with "yes" or "no"')
+            no.add('')
+
+        hint = ' [Y/n] ' if default else ' [y/N] '
+
+        while True:
+            choice = input(prompt + hint).lower()
+            if choice in yes:
+                return True
+            elif choice in no:
+                return False
+            else:
+                print('Please respond with "yes" or "no"')
 
 
-def configure():
+def configure(ctx):
     if not os.path.exists('.env'):
-        if not yesno("the .env file does not exist, do you want to create it?", default=True):
+        if not ctx.yesno("the .env file does not exist, do you want to create it?", default=True):
             print('Aborting')
             exit(0)
         if not os.path.exists('.env.dist'):
@@ -56,7 +65,7 @@ def configure():
     current_hosts = os.getenv('ALLOWED_HOSTS')
     print('Current ALLOWED_HOSTS: {}'.format(current_hosts))
 
-    if yesno("Do you want to add ALLOWED_HOSTS?"):
+    if ctx.yesno("Do you want to add ALLOWED_HOSTS?"):
         hosts = input("Enter a comma-separated list of allowed hosts: ")
         joined_hosts = current_hosts + ',' + hosts if current_hosts else hosts
         dotenv.set_key('.env', 'ALLOWED_HOSTS', joined_hosts)
@@ -67,20 +76,21 @@ def configure():
     django.setup()
 
     if not os.path.exists('db.sqlite3'):
-        if not yesno("No database found, do you want to create one?", default=True):
+        if not ctx.yesno("No database found, do you want to create one?", default=True):
             print('Aborting')
             exit(0)
 
     from django.core.management import call_command
     call_command('migrate')
 
-    if yesno("Do you want to create a superuser?"):
+    if ctx.yesno("Do you want to create a superuser?"):
         from django.core.management import call_command
         call_command('createsuperuser')
 
     call_command('collectstatic', '--no-input')
 
-    if yesno("Do you want to import all categories, properties and tags contained in this repository?", default=True):
+    if ctx.yesno("Do you want to import all categories, properties and tags contained in this repository?",
+                 default=True):
         from hostadmin.serializers import CategorySerializer, PropertySerializer, TagSerializer
         from hostadmin.models import ImportedIdentifierSets
         from hashlib import sha256
@@ -196,6 +206,7 @@ def main():
     parser = ArgumentParser(description='Toolshed Server Configuration')
     parser.add_argument('--yes', '-y', help='Answer yes to all questions', action='store_true')
     parser.add_argument('--no', '-n', help='Answer no to all questions', action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument('--noninteractive', '-x', help="Run in noninteractive mode", action='store_true')
     parser.add_argument('cmd', help='Command', default='configure', nargs='?')
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
@@ -203,8 +214,10 @@ def main():
         print('Error: --yes and --no are mutually exclusive')
         exit(1)
 
+    ctx = CmdCtx(args)
+
     if args.cmd == 'configure':
-        configure()
+        configure(ctx)
     elif args.cmd == 'reset':
         reset()
     elif args.cmd == 'testdata':