diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bdb003d..c0962b2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,9 +39,11 @@ npm install configuru
 }
 ```
 
-3. _(optional)_ As a developer (or environment), create a custom override file (e.g. `~/.env/my-project.jsonc`) and save the path in your `CFG_JSON_PATH`.
+3. _(optional)_ As a developer (or environment), create a custom override file (e.g. `~/.env/my-project.jsonc`) and save the path in your `CONFIGURU_CONFIG`.
 
-   Tip: Use inline secrets like `CFG_JSON_PATH='{"mysecret":"Sssshhh..."}'` or load from GCP Secret Manager: `CFG_JSON_PATH=$(gcloud secrets versions access latest --project=myproject --secret=mysecret)`
+   Tip: Use inline secrets like `CONFIGURU_CONFIG='{"mysecret":"Sssshhh..."}'` or load from GCP Secret Manager: `CONFIGURU_CONFIG=$(gcloud secrets versions access latest --project=myproject --secret=mysecret)`
+
+   **Note:** The legacy `CFG_JSON_PATH` variable is still supported but deprecated and will be removed in the next major version.
 
 4. Create a configuration module (e.g. `config.ts`)
 
diff --git a/src/lib/loader.ts b/src/lib/loader.ts
index 9451c4f..890638a 100644
--- a/src/lib/loader.ts
+++ b/src/lib/loader.ts
@@ -9,9 +9,22 @@ export interface ConfigLoaderOptions {
   envMode?: 'all' | 'default' | 'merged' | 'none'
 }
 
+const resolveUserConfigPath = () => {
+  if (process.env.CONFIGURU_CONFIG) {
+    return process.env.CONFIGURU_CONFIG
+  }
+  if (process.env.CFG_JSON_PATH) {
+    console.warn(
+      'Configuru: CFG_JSON_PATH is deprecated, use CONFIGURU_CONFIG instead. It will be removed in the next major version.'
+    )
+    return process.env.CFG_JSON_PATH
+  }
+  return undefined
+}
+
 const defaultOpts: ConfigLoaderOptions = {
   defaultConfigPath: '.env',
-  userConfigPath: process.env.CFG_JSON_PATH,
+  userConfigPath: resolveUserConfigPath(),
   envMode: 'default',
 }
 
diff --git a/src/test/loader.test.ts b/src/test/loader.test.ts
index e30ab03..1198f49 100644
--- a/src/test/loader.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/loader.test.ts
@@ -157,3 +157,31 @@ describe('simple loads', () => {
     })
   })
 })
+
+describe('User config variable', () => {
+  const defaultConfig = resolve(__dirname, './sandbox/default.json')
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    delete process.env.CONFIGURU_CONFIG
+    delete process.env.CFG_JSON_PATH
+  })
+
+  test('CONFIGURU_CONFIG inline JSON', () => {
+    process.env.CONFIGURU_CONFIG = JSON.stringify({ foo: 'from_configuru' })
+    jest.resetModules() // loader reads env at import time, so we must re-import
+    const { createLoader } = require('../lib/loader')
+    const loader = createLoader({ defaultConfigPath: defaultConfig })
+    const config = loader({ foo: schema.string('foo') }).values()
+    expect(config.foo).toBe('from_configuru')
+  })
+
+  test('CONFIGURU_CONFIG over CFG_JSON_PATH', () => {
+    process.env.CONFIGURU_CONFIG = JSON.stringify({ foo: 'new' })
+    process.env.CFG_JSON_PATH = JSON.stringify({ foo: 'old' })
+    jest.resetModules() // loader reads env at import time, so we must re-import
+    const { createLoader } = require('../lib/loader')
+    const loader = createLoader({ defaultConfigPath: defaultConfig })
+    const config = loader({ foo: schema.string('foo') }).values()
+    expect(config.foo).toBe('new')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/wiki/advanced-usage.md b/wiki/advanced-usage.md
index fedecfa..8e67fcc 100644
--- a/wiki/advanced-usage.md
+++ b/wiki/advanced-usage.md
@@ -100,13 +100,13 @@ maskedConfig.apiKey // [redacted]
 import { createLoader } from 'configuru'
 const loader = createLoader({
   defaultConfigPath: 'default-config', // defaults to ".env"
-  userConfigPath: process.env.USER_CONFIG, // defaults to process.env.CFG_JSON_PATH
+  userConfigPath: process.env.USER_CONFIG, // defaults to process.env.CONFIGURU_CONFIG
   envMode: 'all', // defaults to "default"
 })
 ```
 
 1. `defaultConfigPath`: Where to look for your default config JSON file (provide null to skip)
-2. `userConfigPath`: Where to look for your user config JSON file (provide null to skip)
+2. `userConfigPath`: Where to look for your user config JSON file. Defaults to `process.env.CONFIGURU_CONFIG`, falling back to `process.env.CFG_JSON_PATH` (deprecated). Provide null to skip
 3. `envMode`: How to handle process.env variables
    1. `all` - Load (override) all vars available in process.env to the store
    2. `default` - Load (override) only vars with keys from default config