diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/startUp.js b/packages/cli/src/utils/startUp.js
index 73bb4d06a..880b35ba2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/utils/startUp.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/startUp.js
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ async function startUp({ context, options = {}, command }) {
   context.command = command.name();
   context.commandLineOptions = options;
   context.print = createPrint();
-
-  context.configDirectory = path.resolve(options.configDirectory || process.cwd());
+  context.configDirectory = path.resolve(
+    options.configDirectory || process.env.LOWDEFY_DIRECTORY_CONFIG || process.cwd()
+  );
   const { cliConfig, lowdefyVersion, plugins } = await getLowdefyYaml(context);
   context.cliConfig = cliConfig;
   context.lowdefyVersion = lowdefyVersion;