diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c8cd44cb..6319f40f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 5.4.0
+
+### New features
+
+* Add configuration option `environment` to override the use of `Rails.env` ([#356](https://github.com/rubyconfig/config/pull/356))
+
 ## 5.3.0
 
 * Remove `dry-validation` from dependencies ([#333](https://github.com/rubyconfig/config/pull/333))
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fcecf3e4..119580fe 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ which will generate customizable config file `config/initializers/config.rb` and
 
 You can now edit them to adjust to your needs.
 
+> Note: By default, the config environment will match the Rails environment (`Rails.env`). This can be changed by setting `config.environment`.
+
 ### Installing on Padrino
 
 Add the gem to your `Gemfile` and run `bundle install` to install it. Then edit `app.rb` and register `Config`
diff --git a/lib/config.rb b/lib/config.rb
index 953e9c67..e98d1e70 100644
--- a/lib/config.rb
+++ b/lib/config.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ module Config
     overwrite_arrays: true,
     merge_hash_arrays: false,
     validation_contract: nil,
-    evaluate_erb_in_yaml: true
+    evaluate_erb_in_yaml: true,
+    environment: nil
   )
 
   def self.setup
diff --git a/lib/config/integrations/rails/railtie.rb b/lib/config/integrations/rails/railtie.rb
index 460fa5f3..6748c116 100644
--- a/lib/config/integrations/rails/railtie.rb
+++ b/lib/config/integrations/rails/railtie.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ def preload
 
           # Parse the settings before any of the initializers
           Config.load_and_set_settings(
-            Config.setting_files(::Rails.root.join('config'), ::Rails.env)
+            Config.setting_files(::Rails.root.join('config'), Config.environment.nil? ? ::Rails.env : Config.environment.to_sym)
           )
         end
 
diff --git a/lib/config/version.rb b/lib/config/version.rb
index f29f179a..a4dcdf24 100644
--- a/lib/config/version.rb
+++ b/lib/config/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module Config
-  VERSION = '5.3.0'.freeze
+  VERSION = '5.4.0'.freeze
 end
diff --git a/lib/generators/config/templates/config.rb b/lib/generators/config/templates/config.rb
index 6ea74ecc..f6a222d0 100644
--- a/lib/generators/config/templates/config.rb
+++ b/lib/generators/config/templates/config.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@
   #
   # config.overwrite_arrays = true
 
+  # Defines current environment, affecting which settings file will be loaded.
+  # Default: `Rails.env`
+  #
+  # config.environment = ENV.fetch('ENVIRONMENT', :development)
+
   # Load environment variables from the `ENV` object and override any settings defined in files.
   #
   # config.use_env = false
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 244b76b8..ca0739e7 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -59,6 +59,13 @@
   end
 end
 
+module FixturePathHelper
+  def fixture_path
+    # Call fixture_paths.first in Rails >= 7.1 to avoid deprecation warnings
+    respond_to?(:fixture_paths) ? fixture_paths.first : super
+  end
+end
+
 ##
 # Common Rspec configure
 #
@@ -84,6 +91,8 @@ def self.reset
       end
     end
   end
+
+  config.include FixturePathHelper
 end
 
 ##