diff --git a/django/conf/global_settings.py b/django/conf/global_settings.py
index 2ee79b8eb0..766d0d6010 100644
--- a/django/conf/global_settings.py
+++ b/django/conf/global_settings.py
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ SEND_BROKEN_LINK_EMAILS = False
 
 # Database connection info.
 DATABASES = {
+    'default': {
+        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.dummy',
+    },
 }
 
 # Classes used to implement db routing behaviour