diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 53b15b0..1080451 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ $ teamocil sample
 * `--here` opens the session in the current window, do not create an empty first window.
 * `--layout` takes a custom file path to a YAML layout file.
 * `--edit` opens the layout file (whether or not `--layout` is used) with `$EDITOR`.
-* `--list` lists all available layouts in `./.teamocil`.
+* `--list` lists all available layouts in `./.teamocil` or `$TEAMOCIL_PATH`.
 * `--show` show the layout content instead of executing it.
 
 ## Layout file structure
 
-A layout file is a single YAML file located in `~/.teamocil` (eg. `~/.teamocil/my-project.yml`).
+A layout file is a single YAML file located in `~/.teamocil` or `$TEAMOCIL_PATH` (eg. `~/.teamocil/my-project.yml`).
 
 ### Session
 
diff --git a/lib/teamocil/cli.rb b/lib/teamocil/cli.rb
index e668871..2973b95 100644
--- a/lib/teamocil/cli.rb
+++ b/lib/teamocil/cli.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class CLI
     # @param env [Hash] the environment variables hash (usually `ENV`).
     def initialize(argv, env) # {{{
       parse_options! argv
-      layout_path = File.join("#{env["HOME"]}", ".teamocil")
+      layout_path = env["TEAMOCIL_PATH"] || File.join("#{env["HOME"]}", ".teamocil")
 
       if @options.include?(:list)
         @layouts = get_layouts(layout_path)
diff --git a/spec/cli_spec.rb b/spec/cli_spec.rb
index 765eaa0..6285996 100644
--- a/spec/cli_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cli_spec.rb
@@ -62,6 +62,16 @@
         Teamocil::CLI.new(["--show", "sample"], @fake_env)
       end # }}}
 
+      it "looks only in the $TEAMOCIL_PATH environment variable for layouts" do # {{{
+        @fake_env = { "TMUX" => 1, "HOME" => File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), "fixtures"), "TEAMOCIL_PATH" => File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), "fixtures/.my-fancy-layouts-directory") }
+
+        @cli = Teamocil::CLI.new(["sample-3"], @fake_env)
+        @cli.layout.session.name.should == "sample-3"
+
+        lambda { @cli = Teamocil::CLI.new(["sample"], @fake_env) }.should raise_error SystemExit
+        Teamocil::CLI.messages.should include("There is no file \"#{@fake_env["TEAMOCIL_PATH"]}/sample.yml\"")
+      end # }}}
+
     end
 
   end
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/.my-fancy-layouts-directory/sample-3.yml b/spec/fixtures/.my-fancy-layouts-directory/sample-3.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2c1cf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/.my-fancy-layouts-directory/sample-3.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+session:
+  name: sample-3
+  root: ~
+  windows:
+    - name: "foo"
+      splits:
+      - cmd: "pwd"
+    - name: "bar"
+      splits:
+      - cmd: "pwd"