diff --git a/src/docker-compose.yml b/src/docker-compose.yml
index 82642bc93..786f4c24b 100644
--- a/src/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/src/docker-compose.yml
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ services:
     # command: "python"
     command: >
       bash -c " python manage.py migrate &&
+      python manage.py load &&
       python manage.py runserver 0.0.0.0:8080"
 
   db:
diff --git a/src/registrar/management/commands/load.py b/src/registrar/management/commands/load.py
index e48d3f211..69e7e9ec8 100644
--- a/src/registrar/management/commands/load.py
+++ b/src/registrar/management/commands/load.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import logging
 
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 from auditlog.context import disable_auditlog  # type: ignore
+from django.conf import settings
 
 from registrar.fixtures import UserFixture, DomainApplicationFixture, DomainFixture
 
@@ -12,8 +13,11 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
         # django-auditlog has some bugs with fixtures
         # https://github.com/jazzband/django-auditlog/issues/17
-        with disable_auditlog():
-            UserFixture.load()
-            DomainApplicationFixture.load()
-            DomainFixture.load()
-            logger.info("All fixtures loaded.")
+        if settings.DEBUG:
+            with disable_auditlog():
+                UserFixture.load()
+                DomainApplicationFixture.load()
+                DomainFixture.load()
+                logger.info("All fixtures loaded.")
+        else:
+            logger.warn("Refusing to load fixture data in a non DEBUG env")
diff --git a/src/registrar/signals.py b/src/registrar/signals.py
index 62c5873f0..45c4c4f97 100644
--- a/src/registrar/signals.py
+++ b/src/registrar/signals.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import logging
 
-from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.db.models.signals import post_save, post_migrate
 from django.dispatch import receiver
@@ -56,12 +55,3 @@ def handle_profile(sender, instance, **kwargs):
                 f" Picking #{contacts[0].id} for User #{instance.id}."
             )
 
-
-@receiver(post_migrate)
-def handle_loaddata(**kwargs):
-    """Attempt to load test fixtures when in DEBUG mode."""
-    if settings.DEBUG:
-        try:
-            call_command("load")
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(e)