diff --git a/scripts/src/runtime-env.ts b/scripts/src/runtime-env.ts
index 5e744b28..ba4cfd44 100644
--- a/scripts/src/runtime-env.ts
+++ b/scripts/src/runtime-env.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import { existsSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { join } from "node:path";
 import { rootPath } from "./config";
 
 export function canonicalComposeEnvFile(): string {
+  const explicitFile = process.env.UNIDESK_COMPOSE_ENV_FILE?.trim();
+  if (explicitFile) return explicitFile;
+  const stateDir = process.env.UNIDESK_STATE_DIR?.trim();
+  if (stateDir) return join(stateDir, "docker-compose.env");
   return rootPath(".state", "docker-compose.env");
 }