diff --git a/src/nautilus-module.c b/src/nautilus-module.c
index 6273a76..4adcc8a 100644
--- a/src/nautilus-module.c
+++ b/src/nautilus-module.c
@@ -242,11 +242,17 @@ void
 nautilus_module_setup (void)
 {
     static gboolean initialized = FALSE;
+    const gchar* extensiondir = NULL;
 
     if (!initialized)
     {
         initialized = TRUE;
 
-        load_module_dir (NAUTILUS_EXTENSIONDIR);
+        extensiondir = g_getenv ("NAUTILUS_EXTENSION_DIR");
+        if (extensiondir == NULL) {
+            extensiondir = NAUTILUS_EXTENSIONDIR;
+        }
+
+        load_module_dir (extensiondir);
 
         eel_debug_call_at_shutdown (free_module_objects);
     }