diff --git a/lib/support/init.d/gitlab b/lib/support/init.d/gitlab
index fbb7380ac47..9cf3aa5fe85 100755
--- a/lib/support/init.d/gitlab
+++ b/lib/support/init.d/gitlab
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ sidekiq_pid_path="$pid_path/sidekiq.pid"
 
 ### Here ends user configuration ###
 
+# Read configuration variable file if it is present
+test -f /etc/default/gitlab && . /etc/default/gitlab
 
 # Switch to the app_user if it is not he/she who is running the script.
 if [ "$USER" != "$app_user" ]; then