diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8c441d2..facdf3e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ npm start
 
 The Bee Dashboard runs in development mode on [http://localhost:3031/](http://localhost:3031/)
 
-> Setting `REACT_APP_DEV_MODE=1` environment variable loosens some checks. This makes it possible to develop Bee Dashboard without having connected peers and chequebook properly set up, effectively supporting the dev mode of Bee itself.
+> Setting the `REACT_APP_DEV_MODE=1` environment variable, or opening Bee Dashboard with the query string `?devMode=1` loosens some checks. This makes it possible to develop Bee Dashboard without having connected peers and chequebook properly set up, effectively supporting the dev mode of Bee itself.
 
 ## Contribute
 
diff --git a/src/providers/Bee.tsx b/src/providers/Bee.tsx
index e42fa43..ed73d99 100644
--- a/src/providers/Bee.tsx
+++ b/src/providers/Bee.tsx
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ interface ContextInterface {
   refresh: () => Promise<void>
 }
 
+const startedInDevMode = window.location.search.includes('devMode=1')
+
 const initialValues: ContextInterface = {
   status: {
     all: false,
@@ -102,6 +104,8 @@ function getStatus(
   chequebookBalance: ChequebookBalance | null,
   error: Error | null,
 ): Status {
+  // FIXME: `devMode` is a temporary workaround to be able to develop with only one node
+  const devMode = startedInDevMode || Boolean(process.env.REACT_APP_DEV_MODE)
   const status = {
     version: Boolean(
       debugApiHealth &&
@@ -112,13 +116,12 @@ function getStatus(
     blockchainConnection: Boolean(nodeAddresses?.ethereum),
     debugApiConnection: Boolean(debugApiHealth?.status === 'ok'),
     apiConnection: apiHealth,
-    // FIXME: `REACT_APP_DEV_MODE` is a temporary workaround to be able to develop with only one node
-    topology: Boolean(topology?.connected && topology?.connected > 0) || Boolean(process.env.REACT_APP_DEV_MODE),
+    topology: Boolean(topology?.connected && topology?.connected > 0) || devMode,
     chequebook:
       (Boolean(chequebookAddress?.chequebookAddress) &&
         chequebookBalance !== null &&
         chequebookBalance?.totalBalance.toBigNumber.isGreaterThan(0)) ||
-      Boolean(process.env.REACT_APP_DEV_MODE),
+      devMode,
   }
 
   return { ...status, all: !error && Object.values(status).every(v => v) }