diff --git a/swh/web/config.py b/swh/web/config.py
index a76c316d..986fd355 100644
--- a/swh/web/config.py
+++ b/swh/web/config.py
@@ -1,137 +1,151 @@
-# Copyright (C) 2017-2018  The Software Heritage developers
+# Copyright (C) 2017-2019  The Software Heritage developers
 # See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
 # License: GNU Affero General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
+import os
+
 from swh.core import config
 from swh.storage import get_storage
 from swh.indexer.storage import get_indexer_storage
 from swh.vault import get_vault
 from swh.scheduler import get_scheduler
 
 
 DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
     'allowed_hosts': ('list', []),
     'storage': ('dict', {
         'cls': 'remote',
         'args': {
             'url': 'http://127.0.0.1:5002/',
             'timeout': 10,
         },
     }),
     'indexer_storage': ('dict', {
         'cls': 'remote',
         'args': {
             'url': 'http://127.0.0.1:5007/',
             'timeout': 1,
         }
     }),
     'log_dir': ('string', '/tmp/swh/log'),
     'debug': ('bool', False),
     'serve_assets': ('bool', False),
     'host': ('string', '127.0.0.1'),
     'port': ('int', 5004),
     'secret_key': ('string', 'development key'),
     # do not display code highlighting for content > 1MB
     'content_display_max_size': ('int', 1024 * 1024),
     'snapshot_content_max_size': ('int', 1000),
     'throttling': ('dict', {
         'cache_uri': None,  # production: memcached as cache (127.0.0.1:11211)
                             # development: in-memory cache so None
         'scopes': {
             'swh_api': {
                 'limiter_rate': {
                     'default': '120/h'
                 },
                 'exempted_networks': ['127.0.0.0/8']
             },
             'swh_vault_cooking': {
                 'limiter_rate': {
                     'default': '120/h',
                     'GET': '60/m'
                 },
                 'exempted_networks': ['127.0.0.0/8']
             },
             'swh_save_origin': {
                 'limiter_rate': {
                     'default': '120/h',
                     'POST': '10/h'
                 },
                 'exempted_networks': ['127.0.0.0/8']
             }
         }
     }),
     'vault': ('dict', {
         'cls': 'remote',
         'args': {
             'url': 'http://127.0.0.1:5005/',
         }
     }),
     'scheduler': ('dict', {
         'cls': 'remote',
         'args': {
             'url': 'http://127.0.0.1:5008/'
         }
     }),
     'grecaptcha': ('dict', {
         'activated': True,
         'validation_url': 'https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/siteverify',
         'site_key': '',
         'private_key': ''
     }),
     'production_db': ('string', '/var/lib/swh/web.sqlite3'),
     'deposit': ('dict', {
         'private_api_url': 'https://deposit.softwareheritage.org/1/private/',
         'private_api_user': 'swhworker',
         'private_api_password': ''
     }),
     'coverage_count_origins': ('bool', False)
 }
 
 swhweb_config = {}
 
 
 def get_config(config_file='web/web'):
-    """Read the configuration file `config_file`, update the app with
-       parameters (secret_key, conf) and return the parsed configuration as a
-       dict. If no configuration file is provided, return a default
-       configuration."""
+    """Read the configuration file `config_file`.
+
+       If an environment variable SWH_CONFIG_FILENAME is defined, this
+       takes precedence over the config_file parameter.
+
+       In any case, update the app with parameters (secret_key, conf)
+       and return the parsed configuration as a dict.
+
+       If no configuration file is provided, return a default
+       configuration.
+
+    """
 
     if not swhweb_config:
+        config_filename = os.environ.get('SWH_CONFIG_FILENAME')
+        if config_filename:
+            config_file = config_filename
         cfg = config.load_named_config(config_file, DEFAULT_CONFIG)
         swhweb_config.update(cfg)
         config.prepare_folders(swhweb_config, 'log_dir')
         swhweb_config['storage'] = get_storage(**swhweb_config['storage'])
         swhweb_config['vault'] = get_vault(**swhweb_config['vault'])
         swhweb_config['indexer_storage'] = \
             get_indexer_storage(**swhweb_config['indexer_storage'])
-        swhweb_config['scheduler'] = get_scheduler(**swhweb_config['scheduler']) # noqa
+        swhweb_config['scheduler'] = get_scheduler(
+            **swhweb_config['scheduler'])
     return swhweb_config
 
 
 def storage():
     """Return the current application's storage.
 
     """
     return get_config()['storage']
 
 
 def vault():
     """Return the current application's vault.
 
     """
     return get_config()['vault']
 
 
 def indexer_storage():
     """Return the current application's indexer storage.
 
     """
     return get_config()['indexer_storage']
 
 
 def scheduler():
     """Return the current application's scheduler.
 
     """
     return get_config()['scheduler']