diff --git a/lib/IndicatorManager.vala b/lib/IndicatorManager.vala
index a99a1ec..0ae7799 100644
--- a/lib/IndicatorManager.vala
+++ b/lib/IndicatorManager.vala
@@ -115,7 +115,15 @@ public class Wingpanel.IndicatorManager : GLib.Object {
         }
 
         /* load indicators */
-        var base_folder = File.new_for_path (Build.INDICATORS_DIR);
+
+        var indicators_path = Environment.get_variable("WINGPANEL_INDICATORS_PATH");
+        if (indicators_path != null) {
+            debug ("WINGPANEL_INDICATORS_PATH set to %s", indicators_path);
+        } else {
+            critical ("WINGPANEL_INDICATORS_PATH not set");
+        }
+
+        var base_folder = File.new_for_path (indicators_path);
 
         try {
             monitor = base_folder.monitor_directory (FileMonitorFlags.NONE, null);