diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 007f559..900c478 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ Once the build finishes, a child process is spawned firing both a python and nod
 * `onBuildStart`: array of scripts to execute on the initial build. **Default: [ ]**
 * `onBuildEnd`: array of scripts to execute after files are emitted at the end of the compilation. **Default: [ ]**
 * `onBuildExit`: array of scripts to execute after webpack's process is complete. *Note: this event also fires in `webpack --watch` when webpack has finished updating the bundle.* **Default: [ ]**
+* `env`: Object with environment variables that will be applied to the executables **Default: { }**
 * `dev`: switch for development environments. This causes scripts to execute once. Useful for running HMR on webpack-dev-server or webpack watch mode. **Default: true**
 * `safe`: switches script execution process from spawn to exec. If running into problems with spawn, turn this setting on. **Default: false**
 * `verbose`: **DEPRECATED** enable for verbose output. **Default: false**
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index d6c468e..e54d9ad 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ var defaultOptions = {
   onBuildStart: [],
   onBuildEnd: [],
   onBuildExit: [],
+  env: {},
   dev: true,
   verbose: false,
   safe: false
@@ -200,7 +201,9 @@ var WebpackShellPlugin = function () {
             command = _serializeScript.command,
             args = _serializeScript.args;
 
-        var proc = spawn(command, args, { stdio: 'inherit' });
+        var env = Object.create(global.process.env);
+        env = Object.assign(env, this.options.env);
+        var proc = spawn(command, args, { stdio: 'inherit', env: env });
         proc.on('close', this.puts);
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/webpack-shell-plugin.js b/src/webpack-shell-plugin.js
index b287508..17b4017 100644
--- a/src/webpack-shell-plugin.js
+++ b/src/webpack-shell-plugin.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const defaultOptions = {
   onBuildStart: [],
   onBuildEnd: [],
   onBuildExit: [],
+  env: {},
   dev: true,
   verbose: false,
   safe: false
@@ -41,7 +42,9 @@ export default class WebpackShellPlugin {
       this.spreadStdoutAndStdErr(exec(script, this.puts));
     } else {
       const {command, args} = this.serializeScript(script);
-      const proc = spawn(command, args, {stdio: 'inherit'});
+      let env = Object.create(global.process.env)
+      env = Object.assign(env, this.options.env)
+      const proc = spawn(command, args, {stdio: 'inherit', env: env});
       proc.on('close', this.puts);
     }
   }