@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (

 	"fmt"

 	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/archive"

 	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/utils"

+	"os"

 	"path"

 )

@@ -66,9 +67,15 @@ func New(root string) (Driver, error) {

 	var driver Driver

 	var lastError error

-	if DefaultDriver != "" {

-		return GetDriver(DefaultDriver, root)

+	for _, name := range []string{

+		os.Getenv("DOCKER_DRIVER"),

+		DefaultDriver,

+	} {

+		if name != "" {

+			return GetDriver(name, root)

+		}

 	}

+

 	// Check for priority drivers first

 	for _, name := range priority {

 		driver, lastError = GetDriver(name, root)