diff --git a/doc/apk.8.scd b/doc/apk.8.scd
index 2a096f7..7b104a5 100644
--- a/doc/apk.8.scd
+++ b/doc/apk.8.scd
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ The following options are available for all commands.
 *--no-progress*
 	Disable progress bar even for TTYs.
 
+*--preserve-env*
+	Pass user environment down to scripts.
+
 *--print-arch*
 	Print default arch and exit.
 
diff --git a/src/apk.c b/src/apk.c
index da5fdd7..34f5c72 100644
--- a/src/apk.c
+++ b/src/apk.c
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ static void version(struct apk_out *out, const char *prefix)
 	OPT(OPT_GLOBAL_no_logfile,		"no-logfile") \
 	OPT(OPT_GLOBAL_no_network,		"no-network") \
 	OPT(OPT_GLOBAL_no_progress,		"no-progress") \
+	OPT(OPT_GLOBAL_preserve_env,		"preserve-env") \
 	OPT(OPT_GLOBAL_print_arch,		"print-arch") \
 	OPT(OPT_GLOBAL_progress,		"progress") \
 	OPT(OPT_GLOBAL_progress_fd,		APK_OPT_ARG "progress-fd") \
@@ -155,6 +156,9 @@ static int option_parse_global(void *ctx, struct apk_ctx *ac, int opt, const cha
 	case OPT_GLOBAL_interactive:
 		ac->flags |= APK_INTERACTIVE;
 		break;
+	case OPT_GLOBAL_preserve_env:
+		ac->flags |= APK_PRESERVE_ENV;
+		break;
 	case OPT_GLOBAL_progress:
 		ac->progress.out = &ac->out;
 		break;
diff --git a/src/apk_context.h b/src/apk_context.h
index 5071404..ac0d3d3 100644
--- a/src/apk_context.h
+++ b/src/apk_context.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #define APK_NO_COMMIT_HOOKS		BIT(10)
 #define APK_NO_CHROOT			BIT(11)
 #define APK_NO_LOGFILE			BIT(12)
+#define APK_PRESERVE_ENV		BIT(13)
 
 #define APK_FORCE_OVERWRITE		BIT(0)
 #define APK_FORCE_OLD_APK		BIT(1)
diff --git a/src/database.c b/src/database.c
index be7a0a1..b0c00aa 100644
--- a/src/database.c
+++ b/src/database.c
@@ -1873,7 +1873,7 @@ int apk_db_run_script(struct apk_database *db, char *fn, char **argv)
 	struct apk_out *out = &db->ctx->out;
 	int status;
 	pid_t pid;
-	static char * const environment[] = {
+	static char * const clean_environment[] = {
 		"PATH=/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin",
 		NULL
 	};
@@ -1896,7 +1896,7 @@ int apk_db_run_script(struct apk_database *db, char *fn, char **argv)
 			exit(127);
 		}
 
-		execve(fn, argv, environment);
+		execve(fn, argv, (db->ctx->flags & APK_PRESERVE_ENV) ? environ : clean_environment);
 		exit(127); /* should not get here */
 	}
 	while (waitpid(pid, &status, 0) < 0 && errno == EINTR);