diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cb7fbfe..72fce03 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -337,12 +337,13 @@ There are a few optional environment variables available for customizing a Whoog
 | WHOOGLE_ALT_RD       | The reddit.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.       |
 | WHOOGLE_ALT_TL       | The Google Translate alternative to use. This is used for all "translate ____" searches.  |
 | WHOOGLE_ALT_MD       | The medium.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.       |
-| WHOOGLE_ALT_IMG       | The imgur.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.       |
-| WHOOGLE_ALT_WIKI       | The wikipedia.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.       |
+| WHOOGLE_ALT_IMG      | The imgur.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.        |
+| WHOOGLE_ALT_WIKI     | The wikipedia.com alternative to use when site alternatives are enabled in the config.    |
 | WHOOGLE_AUTOCOMPLETE | Controls visibility of autocomplete/search suggestions. Default on -- use '0' to disable  |
 | WHOOGLE_MINIMAL      | Remove everything except basic result cards from all search queries.                      |
 | WHOOGLE_CSP          | Sets a default set of 'Content-Security-Policy' headers                                   |
-| WHOOGLE_RESULTS_PER_PAGE          | Set the number of results per page                                   |
+| WHOOGLE_RESULTS_PER_PAGE          | Set the number of results per page                                           |
+| WHOOGLE_TOR_CONF | The absolute path to the config file containing the password for the tor control port. Default: {whoogle path}/misc/tor/control.conf |
 
 ### Config Environment Variables
 These environment variables allow setting default config values, but can be overwritten manually by using the home page config menu. These allow a shortcut for destroying/rebuilding an instance to the same config state every time.
diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index ae8ac06..6d86e47 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -149,7 +149,12 @@ app.jinja_env.globals.update(
 Session(app)
 
 # Attempt to acquire tor identity, to determine if Tor config is available
-send_tor_signal(Signal.HEARTBEAT)
+try:
+    send_tor_signal(
+        Signal.HEARTBEAT,
+        confloc=os.getenv('WHOOGLE_TOR_CONF'))
+except TypeError:
+    send_tor_signal(Signal.HEARTBEAT)
 
 from app import routes  # noqa
 
diff --git a/app/request.py b/app/request.py
index 6070e12..b9bd3ca 100644
--- a/app/request.py
+++ b/app/request.py
@@ -37,18 +37,19 @@ class TorError(Exception):
         super().__init__(message)
 
 
-def send_tor_signal(signal: Signal) -> bool:
+def send_tor_signal(signal: Signal, confloc='./misc/tor/control.conf') -> bool:
+    with open(confloc, "r") as conf:
+        for line in conf:
+            pass
+        secret = line
+    conf.close()
     try:
         # Try to authenticate with password.
         with Controller.from_port(port=9051) as c:
-            with open("./misc/tor/control.conf", "r") as conf:
-                for line in conf:
-                    pass
-                secret = line
                 authenticate_password(c, password=secret)
                 c.signal(signal)
                 os.environ['TOR_AVAILABLE'] = '1'
-            return True
+        return True
     except (
         SocketError,
         ConnectionRefusedError,
@@ -66,8 +67,7 @@ def send_tor_signal(signal: Signal) -> bool:
             os.environ['TOR_AVAILABLE'] = '0'
             print(
                 "Unable to authenticate with tor control port." +
-                "Tor will be unavailable."
-                )
+                " Tor will be unavailable.")
             return False