diff --git a/src/Gitolite/Rc.pm b/src/Gitolite/Rc.pm
index 2a51a55..139d6e3 100644
--- a/src/Gitolite/Rc.pm
+++ b/src/Gitolite/Rc.pm
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ _die "$rc seems to be for older gitolite" if defined($GL_ADMINDIR);
 # let values specified in rc file override our internal ones
 @rc{ keys %RC } = values %RC;
 
+    # testing sometimes requires all of it to be overridden silently; use an
+    # env var that is highly unlikely to appear in real life :)
+    do $ENV{G3T_RC} if exists $ENV{G3T_RC} and -r $ENV{G3T_RC};
+
 # fix PATH (TODO: do it only if 'gitolite' isn't in PATH)
 $ENV{PATH} = "$ENV{GL_BINDIR}:$ENV{PATH}";