diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 08cc75b..0f418cd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -65,6 +65,19 @@ extensions:
 
 in your `phpspec.yml`.
 
+### Environment file
+
+You may also want to bootstrap laravel with a custom `.env` file. You can do this by setting:
+```yaml
+extensions:
+  PhpSpec\Laravel\Extension\LaravelExtension:
+    testing_environment_file: ".phpspec.env"
+```
+
+in your `phpspec.yml`.
+
+> Please note that `APP_ENV` set in your custom `.env` file will override the `testing_environment` setting.
+
 ### App bootstrap path
 
 By default, the extension will bootstrap your app by looking for `bootstrap/app.php`
diff --git a/example.phpspec.yml b/example.phpspec.yml
index c9cc3ae..9bd3bca 100644
--- a/example.phpspec.yml
+++ b/example.phpspec.yml
@@ -8,5 +8,7 @@ suites:
 extensions:
   PhpSpec\Laravel\Extension\LaravelExtension:
     testing_environment: "testing"
+    # OR
+    testing_environment_file: ".phpspec.env"
 
 formatter.name: pretty
diff --git a/spec/PhpSpec/Laravel/Util/LaravelSpec.php b/spec/PhpSpec/Laravel/Util/LaravelSpec.php
index 851d078..54c6992 100644
--- a/spec/PhpSpec/Laravel/Util/LaravelSpec.php
+++ b/spec/PhpSpec/Laravel/Util/LaravelSpec.php
@@ -17,13 +17,19 @@ function let(Application $appInst)
 
     function it_boots_in_the_testing_env_by_default()
     {
-        $this->beConstructedWith(null, '.');
+        $this->beConstructedWith(null, '.', null);
         $this->getEnv()->shouldBe('testing');
     }
 
     function it_allows_the_env_to_be_set_to_anything()
     {
-        $this->beConstructedWith('whatever', '.');
+        $this->beConstructedWith('whatever', '.', null);
         $this->getEnv()->shouldBe('whatever');
     }
+
+    function it_allows_the_env_file_to_be_set()
+    {
+        $this->beConstructedWith(null, '.', '.phpspec.env');
+        $this->getEnvFile()->shouldBe('.phpspec.env');
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/PhpSpec/Laravel/Extension/LaravelExtension.php b/src/PhpSpec/Laravel/Extension/LaravelExtension.php
index c4fad9a..7c7726d 100644
--- a/src/PhpSpec/Laravel/Extension/LaravelExtension.php
+++ b/src/PhpSpec/Laravel/Extension/LaravelExtension.php
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ public function load(ServiceContainer $container, array $params)
         $container->define('laravel', function () use ($params) {
             return new Laravel(
                 isset($params['testing_environment']) ? $params['testing_environment'] : null,
-                $this->getBootstrapPath(isset($params['framework_path']) ? $params['framework_path'] : null)
+                $this->getBootstrapPath(isset($params['framework_path']) ? $params['framework_path'] : null),
+                isset($params['testing_environment_file']) ? $params['testing_environment_file'] : null
             );
         });
 
diff --git a/src/PhpSpec/Laravel/Util/Laravel.php b/src/PhpSpec/Laravel/Util/Laravel.php
index dfb06bd..ae88b51 100644
--- a/src/PhpSpec/Laravel/Util/Laravel.php
+++ b/src/PhpSpec/Laravel/Util/Laravel.php
@@ -32,16 +32,25 @@ class Laravel
      */
     protected $appPath;
 
+    /**
+     * Path to the custom .env file.
+     *
+     * @var string
+     */
+    protected $envFile;
+
     /**
      * Constructor.
      *
      * @param string $env Laravel testing environment. 'testing' by default
      * @param string $appPath Path to the Laravel bootstrap dir
+     * @param string $envPath Path to the custom .env file
      */
-    public function __construct($env, $appPath)
+    public function __construct($env, $appPath, $envPath)
     {
         $this->env = $env ?: 'testing';
         $this->appPath = $appPath;
+        $this->envFile = $envPath;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -75,6 +84,11 @@ public function getAppPath()
         return $this->appPath;
     }
 
+    public function getEnvFile()
+    {
+        return $this->envFile;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Creates a Laravel application.
      *
@@ -82,11 +96,15 @@ public function getAppPath()
      */
     protected function createApplication()
     {
-        putenv('APP_ENV=' . $this->getEnv());
-
         $app = require $this->appPath;
 
-        $app->make(Kernel::class)->bootstrap();
+        if ($this->getEnvFile()) {
+            $app->loadEnvironmentFrom($this->getEnvFile());
+        } else {
+            putenv('APP_ENV=' . $this->getEnv());
+        }
+
+        $app->make(Kernel::class)->bootstrap();;
 
         Carbon::setTestNow(Carbon::now());