diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/metadata/MetaDataAction.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/metadata/MetaDataAction.java
index 9cf25b4c..944b8e6c 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/metadata/MetaDataAction.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/metadata/MetaDataAction.java
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ public class MetaDataAction
          metaDataOutput.setBranding(metaDataInput.getInstance().getBranding());
       }
 
+      metaDataOutput.setEnvironmentValues(metaDataInput.getInstance().getEnvironmentValues());
+
       // todo post-customization - can do whatever w/ the result if you want?
 
       return metaDataOutput;
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/metadata/MetaDataOutput.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/metadata/MetaDataOutput.java
index 46194024..40174412 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/metadata/MetaDataOutput.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/metadata/MetaDataOutput.java
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ public class MetaDataOutput extends AbstractActionOutput
    private Map<String, QFrontendReportMetaData>  reports;
    private Map<String, QFrontendAppMetaData>     apps;
    private Map<String, QFrontendWidgetMetaData>  widgets;
+   private Map<String, String>                   environmentValues;
 
    private List<AppTreeNode> appTree;
    private QBrandingMetaData branding;
@@ -202,4 +203,27 @@ public class MetaDataOutput extends AbstractActionOutput
    {
       this.branding = branding;
    }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for environmentValues
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Map<String, String> getEnvironmentValues()
+   {
+      return environmentValues;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for environmentValues
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setEnvironmentValues(Map<String, String> environmentValues)
+   {
+      this.environmentValues = environmentValues;
+   }
+
 }
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/QInstance.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/QInstance.java
index b3fa4650..147ca32c 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/QInstance.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/QInstance.java
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.reporting.QReportMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.modules.authentication.metadata.QAuthenticationMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
+import io.github.cdimascio.dotenv.Dotenv;
+import io.github.cdimascio.dotenv.DotenvEntry;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************
@@ -83,6 +85,8 @@ public class QInstance
    private Map<String, QQueueProviderMetaData> queueProviders = new LinkedHashMap<>();
    private Map<String, QQueueMetaData>         queues         = new LinkedHashMap<>();
 
+   private Map<String, String> environmentValues = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
    // todo - lock down the object (no more changes allowed) after it's been validated?
 
    @JsonIgnore
@@ -93,6 +97,51 @@ public class QInstance
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QInstance()
+   {
+      loadEnvironmentValues();
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private void loadEnvironmentValues()
+   {
+      String prefix = "QQQ_ENV_";
+      for(String name : System.getenv().keySet())
+      {
+         String value = System.getenv(name);
+         addEnvironmentValueIfNameMatchesPrefix(prefix, name, value);
+      }
+
+      Dotenv dotenv = Dotenv.configure().ignoreIfMissing().load();
+      for(DotenvEntry entry : dotenv.entries())
+      {
+         addEnvironmentValueIfNameMatchesPrefix(prefix, entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   private void addEnvironmentValueIfNameMatchesPrefix(String prefix, String name, String value)
+   {
+      if(name.startsWith(prefix))
+      {
+         name = name.replaceFirst(prefix, "");
+         environmentValues.put(name, value);
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Get the backend for a given table name
     *******************************************************************************/
@@ -937,4 +986,26 @@ public class QInstance
       this.queues = queues;
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for environmentValues
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Map<String, String> getEnvironmentValues()
+   {
+      return environmentValues;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for environmentValues
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setEnvironmentValues(Map<String, String> environmentValues)
+   {
+      this.environmentValues = environmentValues;
+   }
+
 }