diff --git a/src/backend/backend.py b/src/backend/backend.py
index a540326b..e4ea2362 100644
--- a/src/backend/backend.py
+++ b/src/backend/backend.py
@@ -430,11 +430,16 @@ class Backend:
     # General functions
 
     async def get_config_dir(self) -> Path:
-        return Path(self.appdirs.user_config_dir)
+        return Path(
+            os.environ.get("MOMENT_CONFIG_DIR") or
+            self.appdirs.user_config_dir,
+        )
 
 
     async def get_theme_dir(self) -> Path:
-        path = Path(self.appdirs.user_data_dir) / "themes"
+        path = Path(
+            os.environ.get("MOMENT_DATA_DIR") or self.appdirs.user_data_dir,
+        ) / "themes"
         path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         return path
 
diff --git a/src/backend/matrix_client.py b/src/backend/matrix_client.py
index 0541656f..49ee1836 100644
--- a/src/backend/matrix_client.py
+++ b/src/backend/matrix_client.py
@@ -165,7 +165,10 @@ class MatrixClient(nio.AsyncClient):
         device_id:  Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> None:
 
-        store = Path(backend.appdirs.user_data_dir) / "encryption"
+        store = Path(
+            os.environ.get("MOMENT_DATA_DIR") or backend.appdirs.user_data_dir,
+        ) / "encryption"
+
         store.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
         proxy: Optional[str]