diff --git a/.env.template b/.env.template
index f0b3c7cbb5b..bf6e2453a28 100644
--- a/.env.template
+++ b/.env.template
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ OPENAI_API_KEY=your-openai-api-key
 ## PROMPT_SETTINGS_FILE - Specifies which Prompt Settings file to use (defaults to prompt_settings.yaml)
 # PROMPT_SETTINGS_FILE=prompt_settings.yaml
 
+## OPENAI_API_BASE_URL - Custom url for the OpenAI API, useful for connecting to custom backends. No effect if USE_AZURE is true, leave blank to keep the default url 
+# the following is an example:
+# OPENAI_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:443/v1
+
 ## AUTHORISE COMMAND KEY - Key to authorise commands
 # AUTHORISE_COMMAND_KEY=y
 
diff --git a/autogpt/config/config.py b/autogpt/config/config.py
index 3737308cf87..df77b383a72 100644
--- a/autogpt/config/config.py
+++ b/autogpt/config/config.py
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
             openai.api_type = self.openai_api_type
             openai.api_base = self.openai_api_base
             openai.api_version = self.openai_api_version
+        elif os.getenv("OPENAI_API_BASE_URL", None):
+            openai.api_base = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_BASE_URL")
 
         if self.openai_organization is not None:
             openai.organization = self.openai_organization