diff --git a/swh/deposit/config.py b/swh/deposit/config.py
--- a/swh/deposit/config.py
+++ b/swh/deposit/config.py
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@
 
 
 def setup_django_for(platform):
-    """Setup function for command line tools (swh.deposit.create_user,
-       swh.deposit.scheduler.cli) to initialize the needed db access.
+    """Setup function for command line tools (swh.deposit.create_user) to
+       initialize the needed db access.
 
     Note:
         Do not import any django related module prior to this function
diff --git a/swh/deposit/settings/production.py b/swh/deposit/settings/production.py
--- a/swh/deposit/settings/production.py
+++ b/swh/deposit/settings/production.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
-# Copyright (C) 2017  The Software Heritage developers
+# Copyright (C) 2017-2019  The Software Heritage developers
 # See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
+import os
+# import logging
+
 from .common import *  # noqa
 from .common import ALLOWED_HOSTS
 from swh.core import config
@@ -19,14 +22,12 @@
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.10/ref/settings/#std:setting-DATABASES
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.10/howto/deployment/checklist/#databases
 
-DEFAULT_PATH = 'deposit/private'
-
-private_conf = config.load_named_config(DEFAULT_PATH)
-
-if not private_conf:
-    raise ValueError('Cannot run in production, missing private data file.')
-
-SECRET_KEY = private_conf.get('secret_key', 'change me')
+# No checks here, everything here should be fine (cf. swh.deposit.wsgi)
+# which does the checks on the production configuration needed
+config_filename = os.environ.get('SWH_CONFIG_FILENAME')
+configuration = config.load_named_config(config_filename)
+private_conf = configuration['private']
+SECRET_KEY = private_conf['secret_key']
 
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.10/ref/settings/#logging
 LOGGING = {
diff --git a/swh/deposit/wsgi.py b/swh/deposit/wsgi.py
--- a/swh/deposit/wsgi.py
+++ b/swh/deposit/wsgi.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (C) 2017  The Software Heritage developers
+# Copyright (C) 2017-2019  The Software Heritage developers
 # See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
@@ -13,12 +13,33 @@
 """
 
 import os
-import sys
 
 from django.core.wsgi import get_wsgi_application
 
-sys.path.append('/etc/softwareheritage')
-os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE",
-                      "swh.deposit.settings.production")
+from swh.core import config
 
-application = get_wsgi_application()
+
+DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH = '/etc/softwareheritage/deposit.yml'
+
+
+def make_app_from_configfile(config_file=DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH):
+    """Build a django wsgi application.
+
+    """
+    config_file = os.environ.get('SWH_CONFIG_FILENAME', config_file)
+    conf = config.load_named_config(config_file)
+    if not conf:
+        raise ValueError(
+            'Cannot run in production, configuration %s does not exist.' % (
+                config_file, ))
+
+    for key in ('scheduler', 'private'):
+        if not conf.get(key):
+            raise ValueError(
+                "invalid configuration; missing %s config entry." % key)
+
+    app = get_wsgi_application()
+    return app
+
+
+application = make_app_from_configfile()