diff --git a/server/services/config/config.go b/server/services/config/config.go
index 824406bf0..6f4da9822 100644
--- a/server/services/config/config.go
+++ b/server/services/config/config.go
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ func ReadConfigFile() (*Configuration, error) {
 	viper.SetConfigName("config") // name of config file (without extension)
 	viper.SetConfigType("json")   // REQUIRED if the config file does not have the extension in the name
 	viper.AddConfigPath(".")      // optionally look for config in the working directory
+	viper.SetEnvPrefix("focalboard")
+	viper.AutomaticEnv() // read config values from env like FOCALBOARD_SERVERROOT=...
 	viper.SetDefault("ServerRoot", DefaultServerRoot)
 	viper.SetDefault("Port", DefaultPort)
 	viper.SetDefault("DBType", "sqlite3")