diff --git a/docs/README b/docs/README
index 05133d8..3169cbf 100644
--- a/docs/README
+++ b/docs/README
@@ -6,10 +6,13 @@ This allows it to be built into other forms for easier viewing and browsing.
 
 To create an HTML version of the docs:
 
-* Install Sphinx (using ``sudo pip install Sphinx`` or some other method)
+* Create a virtualenv and activate it.
+
+* Install all dependencies from requirements.txt inot the virtualenv using
+  ``pip install -r requirements.txt`` (this will also install Sphinx).
 
 * In this docs/ directory, type ``make html`` (or ``make.bat html`` on
-  Windows) at a shell prompt.
+  Windows) at a shell prompt while the virtualenv is active.
 
 The documentation in _build/html/index.html can then be viewed in a web browser.
 
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 2d20388..80a70c1 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -16,7 +16,14 @@ import sys, os
 # If extensions (or modules to document with autodoc) are in another directory,
 # add these directories to sys.path here. If the directory is relative to the
 # documentation root, use os.path.abspath to make it absolute, like shown here.
-#sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('.'))
+project_directory = os.path.dirname(
+    os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+
+# having the example project first, so that the settings module will be found
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(project_directory, 'example'))
+sys.path.insert(1, project_directory)
+
+os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "example.settings")
 
 # -- General configuration -----------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 86357b2..7cd0fea 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ coverage==3.6
 django-coverage==1.2.2
 django-extra-views==0.6.2
 django-floppyforms==1.1
+Sphinx==1.2b1