diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 014f503..77cbe54 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ dokku postgres:create lolipop
 # official postgres image
 export POSTGRES_IMAGE="postgres"
 export POSTGRES_IMAGE_VERSION="9.4.4"
-export POSTGRES_DOCKER_ARGS="USER=alpha;HOST=beta"
+export POSTGRES_CUSTOM_ENV="USER=alpha;HOST=beta"
 dokku postgres:create lolipop
 
 # get connection information as follows
diff --git a/commands b/commands
index fb0a722..12816eb 100755
--- a/commands
+++ b/commands
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ case "$1" in
     touch "$LINKS_FILE"
 
     dokku_log_info1 "Starting container"
-    if [[ -n $POSTGRES_DOCKER_ARGS ]]; then
-      echo "$POSTGRES_DOCKER_ARGS" | tr ';' "\n" > "$SERVICE_ROOT/ENVIRONMENT"
+    if [[ -n $POSTGRES_CUSTOM_ENV ]]; then
+      echo "$POSTGRES_CUSTOM_ENV" | tr ';' "\n" > "$SERVICE_ROOT/ENVIRONMENT"
     else
       echo "" > "$SERVICE_ROOT/ENVIRONMENT"
     fi