diff --git a/test-jmeter/README.md b/test-jmeter/README.md
index c78fbe779cf9..f3335ef7a16e 100644
--- a/test-jmeter/README.md
+++ b/test-jmeter/README.md
@@ -90,6 +90,15 @@ The tests run under the `jmeter-standalone` profile, which is active by default.
 - Results validation
 - Report generation
 
+
+# env password
+When connecting to an external instance, to prevent the need to add the password to the command line, the password can be added to the environment variable JMETER_ADMIN_PASSWORD.  
+To prevent unexpected use of this you must add the property -Djmeter.env.password=true  or set the profile -Pjmeter.env.password
+```bash
+export JMETER_ADMIN_PASSWORD=mysecretpassword
+./mvnw verify -Djmeter.test.skip=false -pl :dotcms-test-jmeter -Djmeter.host=myhost -Djmeter.env.password=true
+```
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 We have not yet validated the memory requirements.  Eventually we should probably be explicit about the JVM memory settings.  These can be added into the configuration block 
diff --git a/test-jmeter/pom.xml b/test-jmeter/pom.xml
index 707f360e114f..1be27b30e4f4 100644
--- a/test-jmeter/pom.xml
+++ b/test-jmeter/pom.xml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
         <jmeter.startup.delay>5</jmeter.startup.delay>
         <jmeter.test.duration>60</jmeter.test.duration>
         <jmeter.thread.number>2</jmeter.thread.number>
+        <jmeter.admin.password>admin</jmeter.admin.password>
     </properties>
 
     <dependencies>
@@ -41,7 +42,10 @@
         <profile>
         <id>jmeter-standalone</id>
         <activation>
-            <activeByDefault>true</activeByDefault>
+            <property>
+                <name>jmeter.test.skip</name>
+                <value>false</value>
+            </property>
         </activation>
         <build>
             <plugins>
@@ -112,6 +116,7 @@
                             <host>${jmeter.host}</host>
                             <port>${jmeter.port}</port>
                             <rampup>${jmeter.rampup}</rampup>
+                            <admin.password>${jmeter.admin.password}</admin.password>
                             <startup.delay>${jmeter.startup.delay}</startup.delay>
                             <test.duration>${jmeter.test.duration}</test.duration>
                             <thread.number>${jmeter.thread.number}</thread.number>
@@ -128,5 +133,19 @@
             </plugins>
         </build>
         </profile>
+        <profile>
+            <id>jmeter.env.password</id>
+            <activation>
+                <property>
+                    <name>jmeter.env.password</name>
+                    <value>true</value>
+                </property>
+            </activation>
+            <properties>
+                <jmeter.admin.password>${env.JMETER_ADMIN_PASSWORD}</jmeter.admin.password>
+            </properties>
+        </profile>
     </profiles>
+
+
 </project>
diff --git a/test-jmeter/src/test/jmeter/sessions.jmx b/test-jmeter/src/test/jmeter/sessions.jmx
index 9d8454e3204f..3f83ebd24803 100644
--- a/test-jmeter/src/test/jmeter/sessions.jmx
+++ b/test-jmeter/src/test/jmeter/sessions.jmx
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@
               <stringProp name="Argument.value">${__P(test.duration,60)}</stringProp>
               <stringProp name="Argument.metadata">=</stringProp>
           </elementProp>
+          <elementProp name="host" elementType="Argument">
+                  <stringProp name="Argument.name">admin.password</stringProp>
+                  <stringProp name="Argument.value">${__P(admin.password,admin)}</stringProp>
+                  <stringProp name="Argument.metadata">=</stringProp>
+          </elementProp>
         </collectionProp>
       </Arguments>
       <hashTree/>
@@ -227,7 +232,7 @@
               <collectionProp name="Arguments.arguments">
                 <elementProp name="" elementType="HTTPArgument">
                   <boolProp name="HTTPArgument.always_encode">false</boolProp>
-                  <stringProp name="Argument.value">{&quot;userId&quot;:&quot;admin@dotcms.com&quot;,&quot;password&quot;:&quot;admin&quot;,&quot;rememberMe&quot;:false,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;,&quot;country&quot;:&quot;US&quot;,&quot;backEndLogin&quot;:true}</stringProp>
+                  <stringProp name="Argument.value">{&quot;userId&quot;:&quot;admin@dotcms.com&quot;,&quot;password&quot;:&quot;${admin.password}&quot;,&quot;rememberMe&quot;:false,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;,&quot;country&quot;:&quot;US&quot;,&quot;backEndLogin&quot;:true}</stringProp>
                   <stringProp name="Argument.metadata">=</stringProp>
                 </elementProp>
               </collectionProp>