diff --git a/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/build.md b/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/build.md
index fbedf82429a..696f3e8a728 100644
--- a/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/build.md
+++ b/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/build.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # `nuxi build`
 
 ```{bash}
-npx nuxi build [rootDir]
+npx nuxi build [rootDir] [--prerender] [--dotenv]
 ```
 
 The `build` command creates a `.output` directory with all your application, server and dependencies ready for production.
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ The `build` command creates a `.output` directory with all your application, ser
 Option        | Default          | Description
 -------------------------|-----------------|------------------
 `rootDir` | `.` | The root directory of the application to bundle.
-`prerender` | `false` | Pre-render every route of your application. (**note:** This is an experimental flag. The behavior might be changed.)
+`--prerender` | `false` | Pre-render every route of your application. (**note:** This is an experimental flag. The behavior might be changed.)
+`--dotenv` | `.` | Point to another `.env` file to load, **relative** to the root directory.
 
 This command sets `process.env.NODE_ENV` to `production`.
diff --git a/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/dev.md b/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/dev.md
index ef603dbbc85..fc74a0d5b07 100644
--- a/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/dev.md
+++ b/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/dev.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # `nuxi dev`
 
 ```{bash}
-npx nuxi dev [rootDir] [--clipboard] [--open, -o] [--no-clear] [--port, -p] [--host, -h] [--https] [--ssl-cert] [--ssl-key]
+npx nuxi dev [rootDir] [--dotenv] [--clipboard] [--open, -o] [--no-clear] [--port, -p] [--host, -h] [--https] [--ssl-cert] [--ssl-key]
 ```
 
 The `dev` command starts a development server with hot module replacement at [http://localhost:3000](https://localhost:3000)
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ The `dev` command starts a development server with hot module replacement at [ht
 Option        | Default          | Description
 -------------------------|-----------------|------------------
 `rootDir` | `.` | The root directory of the application to serve.
+`--dotenv` | `.` | Point to another `.env` file to load, **relative** to the root directory.
 `--clipboard` | `false` | Copy URL to clipboard.
 `--open, -o` | `false` | Open URL in browser.
 `--no-clear` | `false` | Does not clear the console after startup.
diff --git a/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/preview.md b/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/preview.md
index c7d2b524d1b..4b86222e999 100644
--- a/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/preview.md
+++ b/docs/content/3.api/5.commands/preview.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # `nuxi preview`
 
 ```{bash}
-npx nuxi preview [rootDir]
+npx nuxi preview [rootDir] [--dotenv]
 ```
 
 The `preview` command starts a server to preview your Nuxt application after running the `build` command.
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ The `preview` command starts a server to preview your Nuxt application after run
 Option        | Default          | Description
 -------------------------|-----------------|------------------
 `rootDir` | `.` | The root directory of the application to preview.
+`--dotenv` | `.` | Point to another `.env` file to load, **relative** to the root directory.
 
 This command sets `process.env.NODE_ENV` to `production`. To override, define `NODE_ENV` in a `.env` file or as command-line argument.
 
diff --git a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/build.ts b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/build.ts
index b2868355a00..da19795a5fc 100644
--- a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/build.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/build.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { defineNuxtCommand } from './index'
 export default defineNuxtCommand({
   meta: {
     name: 'build',
-    usage: 'npx nuxi build [--prerender] [rootDir]',
+    usage: 'npx nuxi build [--prerender] [--dotenv] [rootDir]',
     description: 'Build nuxt for production deployment'
   },
   async invoke (args) {
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ export default defineNuxtCommand({
 
     const nuxt = await loadNuxt({
       rootDir,
+      dotenv: {
+        cwd: rootDir,
+        fileName: args.dotenv
+      },
       overrides: {
         _generate: args.prerender
       }
diff --git a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
index 826a07e8290..54ed2a3f21e 100644
--- a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/dev.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { defineNuxtCommand } from './index'
 export default defineNuxtCommand({
   meta: {
     name: 'dev',
-    usage: 'npx nuxi dev [rootDir] [--clipboard] [--open, -o] [--port, -p] [--host, -h] [--https] [--ssl-cert] [--ssl-key]',
+    usage: 'npx nuxi dev [rootDir] [--dotenv] [--clipboard] [--open, -o] [--port, -p] [--host, -h] [--https] [--ssl-cert] [--ssl-key]',
     description: 'Run nuxt development server'
   },
   async invoke (args) {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export default defineNuxtCommand({
     const rootDir = resolve(args._[0] || '.')
     showVersions(rootDir)
 
-    await setupDotenv({ cwd: rootDir })
+    await setupDotenv({ cwd: rootDir, fileName: args.dotenv })
 
     const listener = await listen(serverHandler, {
       showURL: false,
diff --git a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/preview.ts b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/preview.ts
index 0fb07832a01..028367c4654 100644
--- a/packages/nuxi/src/commands/preview.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxi/src/commands/preview.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { defineNuxtCommand } from './index'
 export default defineNuxtCommand({
   meta: {
     name: 'preview',
-    usage: 'npx nuxi preview|start [rootDir]',
+    usage: 'npx nuxi preview|start [--dotenv] [rootDir]',
     description: 'Launches nitro server for local testing after `nuxi build`.'
   },
   async invoke (args) {
@@ -35,9 +35,10 @@ export default defineNuxtCommand({
       process.exit(1)
     }
 
-    if (existsSync(resolve(rootDir, '.env'))) {
+    const envExists = args.dotenv ? existsSync(resolve(rootDir, args.dotenv)) : existsSync(rootDir)
+    if (envExists) {
       consola.info('Loading `.env`. This will not be loaded when running the server in production.')
-      await setupDotenv({ cwd: rootDir })
+      await setupDotenv({ cwd: rootDir, fileName: args.dotenv })
     }
 
     consola.info('Starting preview command:', nitroJSON.commands.preview)