diff --git a/merlin/__init__.py b/merlin/__init__.py
index b6f91f74..62930cc4 100644
--- a/merlin/__init__.py
+++ b/merlin/__init__.py
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@
 
 from merlin.core import dataset
 
-envPath = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.merlinenv')
+envPath = os.path.join(
+    os.getenv("MERLIN_ENV_PATH") or os.path.expanduser("~"), ".merlinenv"
+)
 
 if os.path.exists(envPath):
     dotenv.load_dotenv(envPath)