diff --git a/backend/config/settings.py b/backend/config/settings.py
index af75e76da..ea1dca6d6 100644
--- a/backend/config/settings.py
+++ b/backend/config/settings.py
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ def get_bool(key, default):
     'GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS')
 
 MEDIA_URL = '/media/'
-MEDIA_ROOT = os.path.join(STATIC_ROOT, 'media')
+MEDIA_ROOT = os.environ.get('MEDIA_ROOT', os.path.join(STATIC_ROOT, 'media'))
 INTERNAL_MEDIA_HOST = os.environ.get('INTERNAL_MEDIA_HOST')
 
 PICS_CONTAINER = os.environ.get('PICS_CONTAINER', 'tsd-pics')