diff --git a/plugins/other/unicorn_memory_status b/plugins/other/unicorn_memory_status
index cfa3c382..824622e9 100755
--- a/plugins/other/unicorn_memory_status
+++ b/plugins/other/unicorn_memory_status
@@ -75,6 +75,6 @@ when "config"
   puts "total_memory.label total_memory"
   puts "total_memory.draw LINE2"
 else
-  m = Munin::UnicornMemoryStatus.new(RAILS_ROOT)
+  m = Munin::UnicornMemoryStatus.new(ENV['rails_root'] || RAILS_ROOT)
   puts "total_memory.value #{m.total_memory}"
 end