diff --git a/.env b/.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7550b87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+LISTEN=:8080
+NATS=nats://localhost:4222
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 7ccb12a..3a67740 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@ FROM golang:1.11-rc-alpine as build
 RUN apk add --no-cache git=2.18.1-r0
 
 WORKDIR /src
-COPY go.mod go.sum *.go ./
+COPY go.mod go.sum .env *.go ./
 RUN go get -d -v ./...
 RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -ldflags "-s -w"
 
 FROM scratch
 
 COPY --from=build /src/bite /bite
+COPY --from=build /src/.env /.env
 
 ENTRYPOINT ["/bite"]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3436449..1705510 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,14 +8,14 @@ Beep backend handling of audio bites. Chopped up words spoken are uploaded into
 go build && ./backend-bite
 ```
 
-## Flags
+## Environment Variables
 
-Flags are supplied to the compiled go program in the form ```-flag=stuff```.
+Supply environment variables by either exporting them or editing ```.env```.
 
-| Flag | Description | Default |
+| ENV | Description | Default |
 | ---- | ----------- | ------- |
-| listen | Port number to listen on | 8080 |
-| nats | URL of NATS | nats://localhost:4222 |
+| LISTEN | Host and port number to listen on | :8080 |
+| NATS | Host and port of nats | nats://localhost:4222 |
 
 ## API
 
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index cee0ebd..f1cbc14 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ module bite
 
 require (
 	github.com/golang/protobuf v1.2.1-0.20190205222052-c823c79ea157
+	github.com/joho/godotenv v1.3.0
 	github.com/julienschmidt/httprouter v1.2.0
 	github.com/nats-io/gnatsd v1.4.1 // indirect
 	github.com/nats-io/go-nats v1.7.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index ead9d0e..0b80a41 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-github.com/golang/protobuf v1.2.0 h1:P3YflyNX/ehuJFLhxviNdFxQPkGK5cDcApsge1SqnvM=
-github.com/golang/protobuf v1.2.0/go.mod h1:6lQm79b+lXiMfvg/cZm0SGofjICqVBUtrP5yJMmIC1U=
 github.com/golang/protobuf v1.2.1-0.20190205222052-c823c79ea157 h1:SdQMHsZ18/XZCHuwt3IF+dvHgYTO2XMWZjv3XBKQqAI=
 github.com/golang/protobuf v1.2.1-0.20190205222052-c823c79ea157/go.mod h1:Qd/q+1AKNOZr9uGQzbzCmRO6sUih6GTPZv6a1/R87v0=
+github.com/joho/godotenv v1.3.0 h1:Zjp+RcGpHhGlrMbJzXTrZZPrWj+1vfm90La1wgB6Bhc=
+github.com/joho/godotenv v1.3.0/go.mod h1:7hK45KPybAkOC6peb+G5yklZfMxEjkZhHbwpqxOKXbg=
 github.com/julienschmidt/httprouter v1.2.0 h1:TDTW5Yz1mjftljbcKqRcrYhd4XeOoI98t+9HbQbYf7g=
 github.com/julienschmidt/httprouter v1.2.0/go.mod h1:SYymIcj16QtmaHHD7aYtjjsJG7VTCxuUUipMqKk8s4w=
 github.com/nats-io/gnatsd v1.4.1 h1:RconcfDeWpKCD6QIIwiVFcvForlXpWeJP7i5/lDLy44=
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index cfbdaa8..44b09c7 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-  "flag"
   "net/http"
   "log"
+  "os"
   "strconv"
   "time"
 
   "github.com/julienschmidt/httprouter"
   "github.com/nats-io/go-nats"
   "github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
+  "github.com/joho/godotenv"
 )
 
 var listen string
@@ -18,10 +19,13 @@ var natsHost string
 var natsConn *nats.Conn
 
 func main() {
-  // Parse flags
-  flag.StringVar(&listen, "listen", ":8080", "host and port to listen on")
-  flag.StringVar(&natsHost, "nats", "nats://localhost:4222", "host and port of NATS")
-	flag.Parse()
+  // Load .env
+  err := godotenv.Load()
+  if err != nil {
+    log.Fatal("Error loading .env file")
+  }
+  listen = os.Getenv("LISTEN")
+  natsHost = os.Getenv("NATS")
 
   // NATS client
   natsConn, err := nats.Connect(natsHost)