diff --git a/container.go b/container.go
index 785b351c22..77d16c786b 100644
--- a/container.go
+++ b/container.go
@@ -258,8 +258,9 @@ func (container *Container) Start() error {
 
 	var err error
 	if container.Config.Tty {
-		container.cmd.Env = append(container.Config.Env,
-			"TERM=xterm",
+		container.cmd.Env = append(
+			[]string{"TERM=xterm"},
+			container.cmd.Env...,
 		)
 		err = container.startPty()
 	} else {