diff --git a/dev.env b/dev.env
index ebc562cb4d9..f290df1f562 100644
--- a/dev.env
+++ b/dev.env
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ fi
 export GOTOP=$VTTOP/go
 export PYTOP=$VTTOP/py
 
-export VTDATAROOT="$VTROOT/vtdataroot"
+export VTDATAROOT="${VTDATAROOT:-${VTROOT}/vtdataroot}"
 mkdir -p $VTDATAROOT
 
 export VTPORTSTART=15000