diff --git a/gnuviechadmin/gnuviechadmin/settings/base.py b/gnuviechadmin/gnuviechadmin/settings/base.py
index 5e81e2c..1ee18c8 100644
--- a/gnuviechadmin/gnuviechadmin/settings/base.py
+++ b/gnuviechadmin/gnuviechadmin/settings/base.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 # -*- python -*-
 # pymode:lint_ignore=E501
-"""Common settings and globals."""
+"""
+Common settings and globals.
 
+"""
 
 from os import environ
 from os.path import abspath, basename, dirname, join, normpath
@@ -18,7 +20,9 @@ def get_env_variable(var_name):
     Get a setting from an environment variable.
 
     :param str var_name: variable name
-
+    :raises ImproperlyConfigured: if the environment setting is not defined
+    :return: environment setting value
+    :rtype: str
     """
     try:
         return environ[var_name]