diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/util/gpg.py b/lib/spack/spack/util/gpg.py
index 29b2add852..e6b7f56741 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/util/gpg.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/util/gpg.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 _gnupg_version_re = r"^gpg \(GnuPG\) (.*)$"
 
-GNUPGHOME = spack.paths.gpg_path
+GNUPGHOME = os.getenv('SPACK_GNUPGHOME', spack.paths.gpg_path)
 
 
 def parse_keys_output(output):