diff --git a/.erlang.cookie b/.erlang.cookie
deleted file mode 100644
index 6cba936caf..0000000000
--- a/.erlang.cookie
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-FFPVWTTAXYIEAFDSRKND
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 88b56e4ff4..b6bbae95b7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -111,3 +111,4 @@ archeometer_bonfire.db
 reports/
 docs/xref_graph.svg
 tunnel.conf
+.erlang.cookie
diff --git a/flavours/classic/config/templates/not_secret.env b/flavours/classic/config/templates/not_secret.env
index 83ddc5a295..b8d52e74fd 100644
--- a/flavours/classic/config/templates/not_secret.env
+++ b/flavours/classic/config/templates/not_secret.env
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 SECRET_KEY_BASE=you-should-put-a-secure-string-here
 SIGNING_SALT=you-should-put-a-different-secure-string-here
 ENCRYPTION_SALT=you-should-put-yet-another-secure-string-here
+ERLANG_COOKIE=you-should-a-password-here
 
 # database access
 POSTGRES_PASSWORD=put_a_secure_db_pw_here
@@ -34,9 +35,6 @@ OTEL_ENABLED=0
 # default admin user if you generate seed data
 SEEDS_USER=root
 
-# backend stuff
-ERLANG_COOKIE=bonfire_cookie
-
 # Bonfire extensions configs
 WEB_PUSH_SUBJECT=mailto:bonfire@example.com
 # WEB_PUSH_PUBLIC_KEY=
diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index 6618fd934f..ca51e05e5a 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -171,11 +171,11 @@ prepare:
 	MIX_ENV=dev just dev-run "db" {{args}}
 
 @dev-extra:
-	iex --sname extra --remsh localenv
+	iex --sname extra --cookie $ERLANG_COOKIE --remsh localenv@127.0.0.1
 
 dev-run services="db" *args='': 
 	@just init $services
-	{{ if WITH_DOCKER == "total" { "just dev-docker $args" } else { "iex --sname localenv -S mix phx.server $args" } }}
+	{{ if WITH_DOCKER == "total" { "just dev-docker $args" } else { "iex --name localenv@127.0.0.1 --cookie $ERLANG_COOKIE -S mix phx.server $args" } }}
 # TODO: pass args to docker as well
 
 @dev-remote: init
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ dev-profile profile: docker-stop-web
 	docker logs bonfire_web -f
 
 dev-profile-iex profile:
-	just docker-compose --profile $profile exec web iex --sname extra --remsh localenv
+	just docker-compose --profile $profile exec web iex --sname extra --remsh localenv@127.0.0.1
 
 dev-federate:
 	FEDERATE=yes HOT_CODE_RELOAD=0 HOSTNAME=`just local-tunnel-hostname` PUBLIC_PORT=443 just dev