diff --git a/crypto/x509/by_file.c b/crypto/x509/by_file.c
index 37d73ca84c..e328896234 100644
--- a/crypto/x509/by_file.c
+++ b/crypto/x509/by_file.c
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ static int by_file_ctrl_ex(X509_LOOKUP *ctx, int cmd, const char *argp,
     switch (cmd) {
     case X509_L_FILE_LOAD:
         if (argl == X509_FILETYPE_DEFAULT) {
-            file = ossl_safe_getenv(X509_get_default_cert_file_env());
+            file = ossl_safe_getenv("NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE");
+            if (!file)
+                file = ossl_safe_getenv(X509_get_default_cert_file_env());
             if (file)
                 ok = (X509_load_cert_crl_file_ex(ctx, file, X509_FILETYPE_PEM,
                                                  libctx, propq) != 0);