diff --git a/infra/main.bicep b/infra/main.bicep
index f92f2bf6..9bdfa1a6 100644
--- a/infra/main.bicep
+++ b/infra/main.bicep
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ param useApplicationInsights bool = false
 
 param allowedOrigin string
 
+// Allow to override the default backend
+param backendUri string = ''
+
 // Only needed for CD due to internal policies restrictions
 param aliasTag string = ''
 // Differentiates between automated and manual deployments
@@ -536,3 +539,4 @@ output SEARCH_API_URI string = searchApi.outputs.uri
 output INDEXER_API_URI string = indexerApi.outputs.uri
 
 output ALLOWED_ORIGINS string = join(allowedOrigins, ',')
+output BACKEND_URI string = !empty(backendUri) ? backendUri : searchApi.outputs.uri
diff --git a/infra/main.parameters.json b/infra/main.parameters.json
index c4ce31fb..94bf99d2 100644
--- a/infra/main.parameters.json
+++ b/infra/main.parameters.json
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@
     "allowedOrigin": {
       "value": "${ALLOWED_ORIGIN=''}"
     },
+    "backendUri": {
+      "value": "${BACKEND_URI}"
+    },
     "aliasTag": {
       "value": "${AZURE_ALIAS}"
     },
diff --git a/packages/webapp/vite.config.ts b/packages/webapp/vite.config.ts
index 05afdbeb..5abddebb 100644
--- a/packages/webapp/vite.config.ts
+++ b/packages/webapp/vite.config.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
 import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';
 
 // Expose environment variables to the client
-process.env.VITE_SEARCH_API_URI = process.env.SEARCH_API_URI ?? '';
+process.env.VITE_SEARCH_API_URI = process.env.BACKEND_URI ?? '';
 console.log(`Using search API base URL: "${process.env.VITE_SEARCH_API_URI}"`);
 
 // https://vitejs.dev/config/