diff --git a/maloja/__pkginfo__.py b/maloja/__pkginfo__.py
index 8fb703b..807f5a6 100644
--- a/maloja/__pkginfo__.py
+++ b/maloja/__pkginfo__.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ author = {
 	"email":"maloja@krateng.dev",
 	"github": "krateng"
 }
-version = 2,4,10
+version = 2,4,11
 versionstr = ".".join(str(n) for n in version)
 links = {
 	"pypi":"malojaserver",
diff --git a/maloja/globalconf.py b/maloja/globalconf.py
index 4118189..3717d35 100644
--- a/maloja/globalconf.py
+++ b/maloja/globalconf.py
@@ -1,23 +1,34 @@
 import os
+from doreah.settings import get_settings
+from doreah.settings import config as settingsconfig
 
 
-# data folder
-# must be determined first because getting settings relies on it
 
-try:
-	DATA_DIR = os.environ["XDG_DATA_HOME"].split(":")[0]
-	assert os.path.exists(DATA_DIR)
-except:
-	DATA_DIR = os.path.join(os.environ["HOME"],".local/share/")
+# check environment variables for data directory
+# otherwise, go with defaults
+setting_datadir = get_settings("DATA_DIRECTORY",files=[],environ_prefix="MALOJA_")
+if setting_datadir is not None and os.path.exists(setting_datadir):
+	DATA_DIR = setting_datadir
+else:
+	try:
+		HOME_DIR = os.environ["XDG_DATA_HOME"].split(":")[0]
+		assert os.path.exists(HOME_DIR)
+	except:
+		HOME_DIR = os.path.join(os.environ["HOME"],".local/share/")
+
+	DATA_DIR = os.path.join(HOME_DIR,"maloja")
 
-DATA_DIR = os.path.join(DATA_DIR,"maloja")
 os.makedirs(DATA_DIR,exist_ok=True)
 
+
+
 def datadir(*args):
 	return os.path.join(DATA_DIR,*args)
 
 
 
+
+
 ### DOREAH CONFIGURATION
 
 from doreah import config
@@ -44,9 +55,10 @@ config(
 	}
 )
 
+# because we loaded a doreah module already before setting the config, we need to to that manually
+settingsconfig._readpreconfig()
 
 
-from doreah.settings import get_settings
 
 # thumbor