diff --git a/ratelimit.py b/ratelimit.py
index 4bd3f75..6603833 100644
--- a/ratelimit.py
+++ b/ratelimit.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os
 from redis import Redis
 import datetime
 import typing
@@ -16,6 +17,13 @@ class RateLimitExceeded(Exception):
     pass
 
 
+def _get_redis_connection():
+    host = os.environ.get("RRL_REDIS_HOST", "localhost")
+    port = os.environ.get("RRL_REDIS_PORT", 6379)
+    db = os.environ.get("RRL_REDIS_DB", 0)
+    return Redis(host=host, port=port, db=db)
+
+
 class RateLimiter:
     """
     <zone>:<key>:<hour><minute>         expires in 2 minutes
@@ -24,7 +32,7 @@ class RateLimiter:
     """
 
     def __init__(self, tiers: typing.List[Tier], *, prefix="", use_redis_time=True):
-        self.redis = Redis()
+        self.redis = _get_redis_connection()
         self.tiers = {tier.name: tier for tier in tiers}
         self.prefix = prefix
         self.use_redis_time = use_redis_time
diff --git a/test_ratelimit.py b/test_ratelimit.py
index 9aaa4d5..2b5b83e 100644
--- a/test_ratelimit.py
+++ b/test_ratelimit.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import pytest
-from ratelimit import Tier, RateLimiter, RateLimitExceeded
+from ratelimit import Tier, RateLimiter, RateLimitExceeded, _get_redis_connection
 from freezegun import freeze_time
-from redis import Redis
 
-redis = Redis()
+redis = _get_redis_connection()
 simple_minute_tier = Tier("10/minute", 10, 0, 0)
 simple_hour_tier = Tier("10/hour", 0, 10, 0)
 simple_daily_tier = Tier("10/day", 0, 0, 10)