diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index 86f765836c..cbf86c093c 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -7494,3 +7494,10 @@ David  17 Sept 2008
         language_select.php
     sched/
         hr_info.C
+
+David  17 Sept 2008
+    - back end programs: optional BOINC_CONFIG_XML environment variable
+        specifies path of config file (default: ../config.xml)
+
+	sched/
+		sched_config.C
diff --git a/sched/sched_config.C b/sched/sched_config.C
index 023a77e063..02c4fdac84 100644
--- a/sched/sched_config.C
+++ b/sched/sched_config.C
@@ -219,7 +219,12 @@ int SCHED_CONFIG::parse_file(const char* dir) {
     char path[256];
     int retval;
 
-    sprintf(path, "%s/%s", dir, CONFIG_FILE);
+	char* p = getenv("BOINC_CONFIG_XML");
+	if (p) [
+		strcpy(path, p)
+	} else {
+		sprintf(path, "%s/%s", dir, CONFIG_FILE);
+	}
 #ifndef _USING_FCGI_
     FILE* f = fopen(path, "r");
 #else