diff --git a/debug_toolbar/settings.py b/debug_toolbar/settings.py
index 59d538a0b..4dc801c2c 100644
--- a/debug_toolbar/settings.py
+++ b/debug_toolbar/settings.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os
 import sys
 import warnings
 from functools import cache
@@ -6,6 +7,15 @@
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 from django.test.signals import setting_changed
 
+
+def _is_running_tests():
+    """
+    Helper function to support testing default value for
+    IS_RUNNING_TESTS
+    """
+    return "test" in sys.argv or "PYTEST_VERSION" in os.environ
+
+
 CONFIG_DEFAULTS = {
     # Toolbar options
     "DISABLE_PANELS": {
@@ -43,7 +53,7 @@
     "SQL_WARNING_THRESHOLD": 500,  # milliseconds
     "OBSERVE_REQUEST_CALLBACK": "debug_toolbar.toolbar.observe_request",
     "TOOLBAR_LANGUAGE": None,
-    "IS_RUNNING_TESTS": "test" in sys.argv,
+    "IS_RUNNING_TESTS": _is_running_tests(),
     "UPDATE_ON_FETCH": False,
 }
 
diff --git a/docs/changes.rst b/docs/changes.rst
index bf1998de8..6d6f34b2d 100644
--- a/docs/changes.rst
+++ b/docs/changes.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ Change log
 Pending
 -------
 
+* Added support for checking if pytest as the test runner when determining
+  if tests are running.
+
 5.2.0 (2025-04-29)
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index d9e7ff342..377c97da8 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ Toolbar options
 
 * ``IS_RUNNING_TESTS``
 
-  Default: ``"test" in sys.argv``
+  Default: ``"test" in sys.argv or "PYTEST_VERSION" in os.environ``
 
   This setting whether the application is running tests. If this resolves to
   ``True``, the toolbar will prevent you from running tests. This should only
diff --git a/docs/installation.rst b/docs/installation.rst
index 61187570d..b89a2f563 100644
--- a/docs/installation.rst
+++ b/docs/installation.rst
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ can do this by adding another setting:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-    TESTING = "test" in sys.argv
+    TESTING = "test" in sys.argv or "PYTEST_VERSION" in os.environ
 
     if not TESTING:
         INSTALLED_APPS = [
diff --git a/docs/spelling_wordlist.txt b/docs/spelling_wordlist.txt
index 0f58c1f52..79b05cb06 100644
--- a/docs/spelling_wordlist.txt
+++ b/docs/spelling_wordlist.txt
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ psycopg
 py
 pyflame
 pylibmc
+pytest
 pyupgrade
 querysets
 refactoring
@@ -65,5 +66,6 @@ theming
 timeline
 tox
 uWSGI
+unhandled
 unhashable
 validator
diff --git a/tests/test_settings.py b/tests/test_settings.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f7dc676b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_settings.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+from debug_toolbar.settings import _is_running_tests
+
+
+class SettingsTestCase(TestCase):
+    @patch("debug_toolbar.settings.sys")
+    @patch("debug_toolbar.settings.os")
+    def test_is_running_tests(self, mock_os, mock_sys):
+        mock_sys.argv = "test"
+        mock_os.environ = {}
+        self.assertTrue(_is_running_tests())
+
+        mock_sys.argv = ""
+        mock_os.environ = {}
+        self.assertFalse(_is_running_tests())
+
+        mock_sys.argv = ""
+        mock_os.environ = {"PYTEST_VERSION": "1"}
+        self.assertTrue(_is_running_tests())