diff --git a/app/notify_client/__init__.py b/app/notify_client/__init__.py
index d58cc4f4f..66ba89391 100644
--- a/app/notify_client/__init__.py
+++ b/app/notify_client/__init__.py
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ class NotifyAdminAPIClient(BaseAPIClient):
             abort(403)
 
     def check_inactive_user(self):
-        if not current_user or not current_user.is_active:
+        if os.getenv("NOTIFY_E2E_TEST_EMAIL"):
+            # allow end-to-end tests to skip check
+            pass
+        elif not current_user or not current_user.is_active:
             abort(403)
 
     def post(self, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/tests/end_to_end/test_accounts_page.py b/tests/end_to_end/test_accounts_page.py
index b6fe8c5ac..9ed17655a 100644
--- a/tests/end_to_end/test_accounts_page.py
+++ b/tests/end_to_end/test_accounts_page.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ E2E_TEST_URI = os.getenv("NOTIFY_E2E_TEST_URI")
 def test_add_new_service_workflow(authenticated_page, end_to_end_context):
     page = authenticated_page
 
+
     # Prepare for adding a new service later in the test.
     current_date_time = datetime.datetime.now()
     new_service_name = "E2E Federal Test Service {now} - {browser_type}".format(