diff --git a/backend/server.js b/backend/server.js
index 5ca2c41..ab7f8b7 100644
--- a/backend/server.js
+++ b/backend/server.js
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ const log = {
 }
 
 // store all runtime data under backend/data
-const DATA_DIR = path.join(__dirname, 'data')
+const DATA_DIR = process.env.DATA_DIR
+  ? path.resolve(process.env.DATA_DIR)
+  : path.join(__dirname, 'data')
+
 const UPLOAD_DIR = path.join(DATA_DIR, 'uploads')
 
 // ensure data and upload dirs exist