diff --git a/local-cli/default.config.js b/local-cli/default.config.js
index ecc1e0a8a..57a39def0 100644
--- a/local-cli/default.config.js
+++ b/local-cli/default.config.js
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ var config = {
 };
 
 function getRoots() {
+  var root = process.env.REACT_NATIVE_APP_ROOT;
+  if (root) {
+    return [path.resolve(root)];
+  }
   if (__dirname.match(/node_modules[\/\\]react-native[\/\\]local-cli$/)) {
     // Packager is running from node_modules.
     // This is the default case for all projects created using 'react-native init'.