diff --git a/varnam.c b/varnam.c
index 796a62a..522ce07 100644
--- a/varnam.c
+++ b/varnam.c
@@ -217,14 +217,20 @@ static const char* symbolsFileSearchPath[] = {
 const char*
 varnam_find_symbols_file_directory()
 {
-  char *tmp;
-  strbuf *user_path;
-  int i;
-
   if (varnam_symbols_dir != NULL && is_directory(strbuf_to_s (varnam_symbols_dir))) {
     return strbuf_to_s(varnam_symbols_dir);
   }
 
+  char *env_symbols_dir = getenv("VARNAM_SYMBOLS_DIR");
+
+  if (env_symbols_dir != NULL) {
+    return env_symbols_dir;
+  }
+
+  char *tmp;
+  strbuf *user_path;
+  int i;
+
   user_path = strbuf_init (20);
 
 #if defined(WIN32) || defined(_WIN32) || defined(__WIN32)
@@ -304,6 +310,12 @@ make_directory (const char *dirName)
 static strbuf*
 find_learnings_file_path (const char *langCode)
 {
+  char *env_suggestions_dir = getenv("VARNAM_SUGGESTIONS_DIR");
+
+  if (env_suggestions_dir != NULL) {
+    return env_suggestions_dir;
+  }
+
   char *tmp;
   strbuf *path;
 
@@ -341,7 +353,7 @@ find_learnings_file_path (const char *langCode)
       }
     }
   }
-  
+
   strbuf_addf (path, "%s.vst.learnings", langCode);
   return path;
 }