diff --git a/cache/precache.py b/cache/precache.py
index bc3aee1e..046f206a 100644
--- a/cache/precache.py
+++ b/cache/precache.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ async def precache_topics_followers(topic_id: int, session):
 
 
 async def precache_data():
+    logger.info("precaching...")
     try:
         key = "authorizer_dev"
         # cache reset
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 304da157..3df3fcf1 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ colorlog = "^6.8.2"
 [tool.poetry.group.dev.dependencies]
 ruff = "^0.4.7"
 isort = "^5.13.2"
+fakeredis = "^2.25.1"
 
 [build-system]
 requires = ["poetry-core>=1.0.0"]
diff --git a/services/redis.py b/services/redis.py
index 5db49c7a..636aef01 100644
--- a/services/redis.py
+++ b/services/redis.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import logging
 
-import redis.asyncio as aredis
+from fakeredis.aioredis import FakeRedis
+from redis.asyncio import Redis
 
-from settings import REDIS_URL
+from settings import MODE, REDIS_URL
 
 # Set redis logging level to suppress DEBUG messages
 logger = logging.getLogger("redis")
@@ -16,7 +17,10 @@ class RedisService:
         self._client = None
 
     async def connect(self):
-        self._client = aredis.Redis.from_url(self._uri, decode_responses=True)
+        if MODE == "development":
+            self._client = FakeRedis(decode_responses=True)
+        else:
+            self._client = await Redis.from_url(self._uri, decode_responses=True)
 
     async def disconnect(self):
         if self._client: