diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -4,27 +4,26 @@
 [testenv]
 basepython = python3
 passenv = SPHINXOPTS JAVA_HOME
+whitelist_externals = /usr/bin/make
 
 [testenv:sphinx]
 extras =
   building
 deps =
   django < 3
-  pifpaf
 setenv =
   SWHPKGDIR = {envsitepackagesdir}/swh
 commands =
-  {envpython} -m pifpaf run postgresql -- make -C docs {posargs:html}
+  make -C docs {posargs:html}
 
 [testenv:sphinx-dev]
 deps =
   django < 3
   -rrequirements-swh-dev.txt
-  pifpaf
 setenv =
   SWHPKGDIR = {envsitepackagesdir}/swh
 commands =
-  {envpython} -m pifpaf run postgresql -- make -C docs {posargs:html}
+  make -C docs {posargs:html}
 
 [testenv:black]
 skip_install = true