diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ab5519726d61..d8c2b8166ec9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ SHASUM ?= shasum -a 256
 export PATH := $($(GO) env GOPATH)/bin:$(PATH)
 
 ifeq ($(OS), Windows_NT)
-	EXECUTABLE := gitea.exe
+	EXECUTABLE ?= gitea.exe
 else
-	EXECUTABLE := gitea
+	EXECUTABLE ?= gitea
 	UNAME_S := $(shell uname -s)
 	ifeq ($(UNAME_S),Darwin)
 		SED_INPLACE := sed -i ''
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ else
 	GITEA_VERSION ?= $(shell git describe --tags --always | sed 's/-/+/' | sed 's/^v//')
 endif
 
-LDFLAGS := -X "main.MakeVersion=$(MAKE_VERSION)" -X "main.Version=$(GITEA_VERSION)" -X "main.Tags=$(TAGS)"
+LDFLAGS := $(LDFLAGS) -X "main.MakeVersion=$(MAKE_VERSION)" -X "main.Version=$(GITEA_VERSION)" -X "main.Tags=$(TAGS)"
 
 PACKAGES ?= $(filter-out code.gitea.io/gitea/integrations/migration-test,$(filter-out code.gitea.io/gitea/integrations,$(shell $(GO) list ./... | grep -v /vendor/)))
 SOURCES ?= $(shell find . -name "*.go" -type f)
@@ -70,12 +70,6 @@ TEST_MSSQL_DBNAME ?= gitea
 TEST_MSSQL_USERNAME ?= sa
 TEST_MSSQL_PASSWORD ?= MwantsaSecurePassword1
 
-ifeq ($(OS), Windows_NT)
-	EXECUTABLE := gitea.exe
-else
-	EXECUTABLE := gitea
-endif
-
 # $(call strip-suffix,filename)
 strip-suffix = $(firstword $(subst ., ,$(1)))
 
diff --git a/cmd/admin.go b/cmd/admin.go
index b46eb2871e04..be21ec0f36cf 100644
--- a/cmd/admin.go
+++ b/cmd/admin.go
@@ -60,11 +60,6 @@ var (
 				Name:  "admin",
 				Usage: "User is an admin",
 			},
-			cli.StringFlag{
-				Name:  "config, c",
-				Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-				Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-			},
 			cli.BoolFlag{
 				Name:  "random-password",
 				Usage: "Generate a random password for the user",
@@ -96,11 +91,6 @@ var (
 				Value: "",
 				Usage: "New password to set for user",
 			},
-			cli.StringFlag{
-				Name:  "config, c",
-				Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-				Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-			},
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -123,26 +113,12 @@ var (
 		Name:   "hooks",
 		Usage:  "Regenerate git-hooks",
 		Action: runRegenerateHooks,
-		Flags: []cli.Flag{
-			cli.StringFlag{
-				Name:  "config, c",
-				Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-				Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-			},
-		},
 	}
 
 	microcmdRegenKeys = cli.Command{
 		Name:   "keys",
 		Usage:  "Regenerate authorized_keys file",
 		Action: runRegenerateKeys,
-		Flags: []cli.Flag{
-			cli.StringFlag{
-				Name:  "config, c",
-				Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-				Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-			},
-		},
 	}
 
 	subcmdAuth = cli.Command{
@@ -160,13 +136,6 @@ var (
 		Name:   "list",
 		Usage:  "List auth sources",
 		Action: runListAuth,
-		Flags: []cli.Flag{
-			cli.StringFlag{
-				Name:  "config, c",
-				Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-				Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-			},
-		},
 	}
 
 	idFlag = cli.Int64Flag{
@@ -178,22 +147,9 @@ var (
 		Name:   "delete",
 		Usage:  "Delete specific auth source",
 		Action: runDeleteAuth,
-		Flags: []cli.Flag{
-			cli.StringFlag{
-				Name:  "config, c",
-				Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-				Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-			},
-			idFlag,
-		},
 	}
 
 	oauthCLIFlags = []cli.Flag{
-		cli.StringFlag{
-			Name:  "config, c",
-			Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-			Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "name",
 			Value: "",
@@ -266,10 +222,6 @@ func runChangePassword(c *cli.Context) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if err := initDB(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -331,10 +283,6 @@ func runCreateUser(c *cli.Context) error {
 		return errors.New("must set either password or random-password flag")
 	}
 
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if err := initDB(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -430,10 +378,6 @@ func getReleaseCount(id int64) (int64, error) {
 }
 
 func runRegenerateHooks(c *cli.Context) error {
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if err := initDB(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -441,10 +385,6 @@ func runRegenerateHooks(c *cli.Context) error {
 }
 
 func runRegenerateKeys(c *cli.Context) error {
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if err := initDB(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -473,10 +413,6 @@ func parseOAuth2Config(c *cli.Context) *models.OAuth2Config {
 }
 
 func runAddOauth(c *cli.Context) error {
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if err := initDB(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -490,10 +426,6 @@ func runAddOauth(c *cli.Context) error {
 }
 
 func runUpdateOauth(c *cli.Context) error {
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if !c.IsSet("id") {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--id flag is missing")
 	}
@@ -561,10 +493,6 @@ func runUpdateOauth(c *cli.Context) error {
 }
 
 func runListAuth(c *cli.Context) error {
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if err := initDB(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -587,10 +515,6 @@ func runListAuth(c *cli.Context) error {
 }
 
 func runDeleteAuth(c *cli.Context) error {
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if !c.IsSet("id") {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--id flag is missing")
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/dump.go b/cmd/dump.go
index 98e930f2fbf6..a9e83f36d9a0 100644
--- a/cmd/dump.go
+++ b/cmd/dump.go
@@ -30,11 +30,6 @@ var CmdDump = cli.Command{
 It can be used for backup and capture Gitea server image to send to maintainer`,
 	Action: runDump,
 	Flags: []cli.Flag{
-		cli.StringFlag{
-			Name:  "config, c",
-			Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-			Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "file, f",
 			Value: fmt.Sprintf("gitea-dump-%d.zip", time.Now().Unix()),
@@ -61,9 +56,6 @@ It can be used for backup and capture Gitea server image to send to maintainer`,
 }
 
 func runDump(ctx *cli.Context) error {
-	if ctx.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = ctx.String("config")
-	}
 	setting.NewContext()
 	setting.NewServices() // cannot access session settings otherwise
 	models.LoadConfigs()
diff --git a/cmd/hook.go b/cmd/hook.go
index 88e61c61d175..46f97d5542a7 100644
--- a/cmd/hook.go
+++ b/cmd/hook.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/private"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/util"
 
 	"github.com/urfave/cli"
@@ -28,13 +27,6 @@ var (
 		Name:        "hook",
 		Usage:       "Delegate commands to corresponding Git hooks",
 		Description: "This should only be called by Git",
-		Flags: []cli.Flag{
-			cli.StringFlag{
-				Name:  "config, c",
-				Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-				Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-			},
-		},
 		Subcommands: []cli.Command{
 			subcmdHookPreReceive,
 			subcmdHookUpdate,
@@ -67,12 +59,6 @@ func runHookPreReceive(c *cli.Context) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	} else if c.GlobalIsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.GlobalString("config")
-	}
-
 	setup("hooks/pre-receive.log")
 
 	// the environment setted on serv command
@@ -143,12 +129,6 @@ func runHookUpdate(c *cli.Context) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	} else if c.GlobalIsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.GlobalString("config")
-	}
-
 	setup("hooks/update.log")
 
 	return nil
@@ -159,12 +139,6 @@ func runHookPostReceive(c *cli.Context) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	} else if c.GlobalIsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.GlobalString("config")
-	}
-
 	setup("hooks/post-receive.log")
 
 	// the environment setted on serv command
diff --git a/cmd/keys.go b/cmd/keys.go
index 66565cc56324..39153c7cb76c 100644
--- a/cmd/keys.go
+++ b/cmd/keys.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models"
-	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
 
 	"github.com/urfave/cli"
 )
@@ -41,19 +40,10 @@ var CmdKeys = cli.Command{
 			Value: "",
 			Usage: "Base64 encoded content of the SSH key provided to the SSH Server (requires type to be provided too)",
 		},
-		cli.StringFlag{
-			Name:  "config, c",
-			Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-			Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-		},
 	},
 }
 
 func runKeys(c *cli.Context) error {
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if !c.IsSet("username") {
 		return errors.New("No username provided")
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/migrate.go b/cmd/migrate.go
index 3e6bf907a46d..dde50a455f07 100644
--- a/cmd/migrate.go
+++ b/cmd/migrate.go
@@ -19,20 +19,9 @@ var CmdMigrate = cli.Command{
 	Usage:       "Migrate the database",
 	Description: "This is a command for migrating the database, so that you can run gitea admin create-user before starting the server.",
 	Action:      runMigrate,
-	Flags: []cli.Flag{
-		cli.StringFlag{
-			Name:  "config, c",
-			Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-			Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-		},
-	},
 }
 
 func runMigrate(ctx *cli.Context) error {
-	if ctx.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = ctx.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if err := initDB(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/serv.go b/cmd/serv.go
index ebd71ad3c759..a30e02e7a264 100644
--- a/cmd/serv.go
+++ b/cmd/serv.go
@@ -39,11 +39,6 @@ var CmdServ = cli.Command{
 	Description: `Serv provide access auth for repositories`,
 	Action:      runServ,
 	Flags: []cli.Flag{
-		cli.StringFlag{
-			Name:  "config, c",
-			Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-			Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-		},
 		cli.BoolFlag{
 			Name: "enable-pprof",
 		},
@@ -109,9 +104,6 @@ func fail(userMessage, logMessage string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func runServ(c *cli.Context) error {
-	if c.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = c.String("config")
-	}
 	setup("serv.log")
 
 	if setting.SSH.Disabled {
diff --git a/cmd/web.go b/cmd/web.go
index 4641645ee432..6da6ec942e8c 100644
--- a/cmd/web.go
+++ b/cmd/web.go
@@ -40,11 +40,6 @@ and it takes care of all the other things for you`,
 			Value: "3000",
 			Usage: "Temporary port number to prevent conflict",
 		},
-		cli.StringFlag{
-			Name:  "config, c",
-			Value: "custom/conf/app.ini",
-			Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
-		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "pid, P",
 			Value: "/var/run/gitea.pid",
@@ -110,10 +105,6 @@ func runLetsEncryptFallbackHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 }
 
 func runWeb(ctx *cli.Context) error {
-	if ctx.IsSet("config") {
-		setting.CustomConf = ctx.String("config")
-	}
-
 	if ctx.IsSet("pid") {
 		setting.CustomPID = ctx.String("pid")
 	}
diff --git a/contrib/pr/checkout.go b/contrib/pr/checkout.go
index 9fe1eb573c55..bc393da135ed 100644
--- a/contrib/pr/checkout.go
+++ b/contrib/pr/checkout.go
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ func runPR() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	setting.SetCustomPathAndConf("", "")
 	setting.NewContext()
 
 	setting.RepoRootPath, err = ioutil.TempDir(os.TempDir(), "repos")
diff --git a/docker/Makefile b/docker/Makefile
index 80e7ae34b3a1..99935023e346 100644
--- a/docker/Makefile
+++ b/docker/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ DOCKER_IMAGE ?= gitea/gitea
 DOCKER_TAG ?= latest
 DOCKER_REF := $(DOCKER_IMAGE):$(DOCKER_TAG)
 
-
 .PHONY: docker
 docker:
 	docker build --disable-content-trust=false -t $(DOCKER_REF) .
@@ -12,4 +11,4 @@ docker:
 
 .PHONY: docker-build
 docker-build:
-	docker run -ti --rm -v $(CURDIR):/srv/app/src/code.gitea.io/gitea -w /srv/app/src/code.gitea.io/gitea -e TAGS="bindata $(TAGS)" webhippie/golang:edge make clean generate build
+	docker run -ti --rm -v $(CURDIR):/srv/app/src/code.gitea.io/gitea -w /srv/app/src/code.gitea.io/gitea -e TAGS="bindata $(TAGS)" LDFLAGS="$(LDFLAGS)" webhippie/golang:edge make clean generate build
diff --git a/docs/content/doc/advanced/customizing-gitea.en-us.md b/docs/content/doc/advanced/customizing-gitea.en-us.md
index 983fe5f0c78b..69cf58b3bfef 100644
--- a/docs/content/doc/advanced/customizing-gitea.en-us.md
+++ b/docs/content/doc/advanced/customizing-gitea.en-us.md
@@ -15,19 +15,28 @@ menu:
 
 # Customizing Gitea
 
-Customizing Gitea is typically done using the `custom` folder. This is the central
-place to override configuration settings, templates, etc.
+Customizing Gitea is typically done using the `CustomPath` folder - by default this is
+the `custom` folder from the running directory, but may be different if your build has
+set this differently. This is the central place to override configuration settings,
+templates, etc. You can check the `CustomPath` using `gitea help`. You can override
+the `CustomPath` by setting either the `GITEA_CUSTOM` environment variable or by
+using the `--custom-path` option on the `gitea` binary. (The option will override the
+environment variable.)
 
 If Gitea is deployed from binary, all default paths will be relative to the Gitea
 binary. If installed from a distribution, these paths will likely be modified to
-the Linux Filesystem Standard. Gitea will create required folders, including `custom/`.
-Application settings are configured in `custom/conf/app.ini`. Distributions may
-provide a symlink for `custom` using `/etc/gitea/`.
+the Linux Filesystem Standard. Gitea will attempt to create required folders, including
+`custom/`. Distributions may provide a symlink for `custom` using `/etc/gitea/`.
+
+Application settings can be found in file `CustomConf` which is by default,
+`CustomPath/conf/app.ini` but may be different if your build has set this differently.
+Again `gitea help` will allow you review this variable and you can override it using the
+`--config` option on the `gitea` binary.
 
 - [Quick Cheat Sheet](https://docs.gitea.io/en-us/config-cheat-sheet/)
 - [Complete List](https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/blob/master/custom/conf/app.ini.sample)
 
-If the `custom` folder can't be found next to the binary, check the `GITEA_CUSTOM`
+If the `CustomPath` folder can't be found despite checking `gitea help`, check the `GITEA_CUSTOM`
 environment variable; this can be used to override the default path to something else.
 `GITEA_CUSTOM` might, for example, be set by an init script.
 
@@ -38,7 +47,8 @@ environment variable; this can be used to override the default path to something
 ## Customizing /robots.txt
 
 To make Gitea serve a custom `/robots.txt` (default: empty 404), create a file called
-`robots.txt` in the `custom` folder with [expected contents](http://www.robotstxt.org/).
+`robots.txt` in the `custom` folder (or `CustomPath`) with
+[expected contents](http://www.robotstxt.org/).
 
 ## Serving custom public files
 
diff --git a/docs/content/doc/installation/from-source.en-us.md b/docs/content/doc/installation/from-source.en-us.md
index 73e9501eb76b..ce5915cc3fe1 100644
--- a/docs/content/doc/installation/from-source.en-us.md
+++ b/docs/content/doc/installation/from-source.en-us.md
@@ -117,3 +117,26 @@ launched manually from command line, it can be killed by pressing `Ctrl + C`.
 ```bash
 ./gitea web
 ```
+
+## Changing the default CustomPath, CustomConf and AppWorkDir
+
+Gitea will search for a number of things from the `CustomPath`. By default this is
+the `custom/` directory in the current working directory when running Gitea. It will also
+look for its configuration file `CustomConf` in `$CustomPath/conf/app.ini`, and will use the
+current working directory as the relative base path `AppWorkDir` for a number configurable
+values.
+
+These values, although useful when developing, may conflict with downstream users preferences.
+
+One option is to use a script file to shadow the `gitea` binary and create an appropriate
+environment before running Gitea. However, when building you can change these defaults
+using the `LDFLAGS` environment variable for `make`. The appropriate settings are as follows
+
+* To set the `CustomPath` use `LDFLAGS="-X \"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting.CustomPath=custom-path\""`
+* For `CustomConf` you should use `-X \"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting.CustomConf=conf.ini\"`
+* For `AppWorkDir` you should use `-X \"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting.AppWorkDir=working-directory\"`
+
+Add as many of the strings with their preceding `-X` to the `LDFLAGS` variable and run `make build`
+with the appropriate `TAGS` as above.
+
+Running `gitea help` will allow you to review what the computed settings will be for your `gitea`.
diff --git a/docs/content/doc/usage/command-line.en-us.md b/docs/content/doc/usage/command-line.en-us.md
index df749ebe04cf..342af930a9bf 100644
--- a/docs/content/doc/usage/command-line.en-us.md
+++ b/docs/content/doc/usage/command-line.en-us.md
@@ -17,13 +17,16 @@ menu:
 
 ### Usage
 
-`gitea [global options] command [command options] [arguments...]`
+`gitea [global options] command [command or global options] [arguments...]`
 
 ### Global options
- - `--help`, `-h`: Show help text and exit. Optional. This can be used with any of the
-   subcommands to see help text for it.
- - `--version`, `-v`: Show version and exit. Optional. (example: `Gitea version
-   1.1.0+218-g7b907ed built with: bindata, sqlite`).
+
+All global options can be placed at the command level.
+
+- `--help`, `-h`: Show help text and exit. Optional.
+- `--version`, `-v`: Show version and exit. Optional. (example: `Gitea version 1.1.0+218-g7b907ed built with: bindata, sqlite`).
+- `--custom-path path`, `-C path`: Location of the Gitea custom folder. Optional. (default: $PWD/custom).
+- `--config path`, `-c path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
 
 ### Commands
 
@@ -33,7 +36,6 @@ Starts the server:
 
 - Options:
     - `--port number`, `-p number`: Port number. Optional. (default: 3000). Overrides configuration file.
-    - `--config path`, `-c path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
     - `--pid path`, `-P path`: Pidfile path. Optional.
 - Examples:
     - `gitea web`
@@ -56,7 +58,6 @@ Admin operations:
             - `--password value`: Password. Required.
             - `--email value`: Email. Required.
             - `--admin`: If provided, this makes the user an admin. Optional.
-            - `--config path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
             - `--must-change-password`: If provided, the created user will be required to choose a newer password after
 	    the initial login. Optional. (default: true).
             - ``--random-password``: If provided, a randomly generated password will be used as the password of
@@ -69,7 +70,6 @@ Admin operations:
         - Options:
             - `--username value`, `-u value`: Username. Required.
             - `--password value`, `-p value`: New password. Required.
-            - `--config path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
         - Examples:
             - `gitea admin change-password --username myname --password asecurepassword`
     - `regenerate`
@@ -82,19 +82,15 @@ Admin operations:
     - `auth`:
         - `list`:
             - Description: lists all external authentication sources that exist
-            - Options:
-                - `--config path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
             - Examples:
                 - `gitea admin auth list`
         - `delete`:
             - Options:
                 - `--id`: ID of source to be deleted. Required.
-                - `--config path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
             - Examples:
                 - `gitea admin auth delete --id 1`
         - `add-oauth`:
             - Options:
-                - `--config path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
                 - `--name`: Application Name.
                 - `--provider`: OAuth2 Provider.
                 - `--key`: Client ID (Key).
@@ -110,7 +106,6 @@ Admin operations:
         - `update-oauth`:
             - Options:
                 - `--id`: ID of source to be updated. Required.
-                - `--config path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
                 - `--name`: Application Name.
                 - `--provider`: OAuth2 Provider.
                 - `--key`: Client ID (Key).
@@ -148,7 +143,6 @@ Dumps all files and databases into a zip file. Outputs into a file like `gitea-d
 in the current directory.
 
 - Options:
-    - `--config path`, `-c path`: Gitea configuration file path. Optional. (default: custom/conf/app.ini).
     - `--file name`, `-f name`: Name of the dump file with will be created. Optional. (default: gitea-dump-[timestamp].zip).
     - `--tempdir path`, `-t path`: Path to the temporary directory used. Optional. (default: /tmp).
     - `--skip-repository`, `-R`: Skip the repository dumping. Optional.
diff --git a/integrations/integration_test.go b/integrations/integration_test.go
index 43c81794309b..566859518a10 100644
--- a/integrations/integration_test.go
+++ b/integrations/integration_test.go
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ func initIntegrationTest() {
 		setting.CustomConf = giteaConf
 	}
 
+	setting.SetCustomPathAndConf("", "")
 	setting.NewContext()
 	setting.CheckLFSVersion()
 	models.LoadConfigs()
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 989ae1c58c6f..102450f90602 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 package main // import "code.gitea.io/gitea"
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
@@ -30,11 +31,20 @@ var (
 	Tags = ""
 	// MakeVersion holds the current Make version if built with make
 	MakeVersion = ""
+
+	originalAppHelpTemplate        = ""
+	originalCommandHelpTemplate    = ""
+	originalSubcommandHelpTemplate = ""
 )
 
 func init() {
 	setting.AppVer = Version
 	setting.AppBuiltWith = formatBuiltWith(Tags)
+
+	// Grab the original help templates
+	originalAppHelpTemplate = cli.AppHelpTemplate
+	originalCommandHelpTemplate = cli.CommandHelpTemplate
+	originalSubcommandHelpTemplate = cli.SubcommandHelpTemplate
 }
 
 func main() {
@@ -55,14 +65,107 @@ arguments - which can alternatively be run by running the subcommand web.`
 		cmd.CmdMigrate,
 		cmd.CmdKeys,
 	}
+	// Now adjust these commands to add our global configuration options
+
+	// First calculate the default paths and set the AppHelpTemplates in this context
+	setting.SetCustomPathAndConf("", "")
+	setAppHelpTemplates()
+
+	// default configuration flags
+	defaultFlags := []cli.Flag{
+		cli.StringFlag{
+			Name:  "custom-path, C",
+			Value: setting.CustomPath,
+			Usage: "Custom path file path",
+		},
+		cli.StringFlag{
+			Name:  "config, c",
+			Value: setting.CustomConf,
+			Usage: "Custom configuration file path",
+		},
+		cli.VersionFlag,
+	}
+
+	// Set the default to be equivalent to cmdWeb and add the default flags
 	app.Flags = append(app.Flags, cmd.CmdWeb.Flags...)
+	app.Flags = append(app.Flags, defaultFlags...)
 	app.Action = cmd.CmdWeb.Action
+
+	// Add functions to set these paths and these flags to the commands
+	app.Before = establishCustomPath
+	for i := range app.Commands {
+		setFlagsAndBeforeOnSubcommands(&app.Commands[i], defaultFlags, establishCustomPath)
+	}
+
 	err := app.Run(os.Args)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal("Failed to run app with %s: %v", os.Args, err)
 	}
 }
 
+func setFlagsAndBeforeOnSubcommands(command *cli.Command, defaultFlags []cli.Flag, before cli.BeforeFunc) {
+	command.Flags = append(command.Flags, defaultFlags...)
+	command.Before = establishCustomPath
+	for i := range command.Subcommands {
+		setFlagsAndBeforeOnSubcommands(&command.Subcommands[i], defaultFlags, before)
+	}
+}
+
+func establishCustomPath(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+	var providedCustom string
+	var providedConf string
+
+	currentCtx := ctx
+	for {
+		if len(providedCustom) != 0 && len(providedConf) != 0 {
+			break
+		}
+		if currentCtx == nil {
+			break
+		}
+		if currentCtx.IsSet("custom-path") && len(providedCustom) == 0 {
+			providedCustom = currentCtx.String("custom-path")
+		}
+		if currentCtx.IsSet("config") && len(providedConf) == 0 {
+			providedConf = currentCtx.String("config")
+		}
+		currentCtx = currentCtx.Parent()
+
+	}
+	setting.SetCustomPathAndConf(providedCustom, providedConf)
+
+	setAppHelpTemplates()
+
+	if ctx.IsSet("version") {
+		cli.ShowVersion(ctx)
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func setAppHelpTemplates() {
+	cli.AppHelpTemplate = adjustHelpTemplate(originalAppHelpTemplate)
+	cli.CommandHelpTemplate = adjustHelpTemplate(originalCommandHelpTemplate)
+	cli.SubcommandHelpTemplate = adjustHelpTemplate(originalSubcommandHelpTemplate)
+}
+
+func adjustHelpTemplate(originalTemplate string) string {
+	overrided := ""
+	if _, ok := os.LookupEnv("GITEA_CUSTOM"); ok {
+		overrided = "(GITEA_CUSTOM)"
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf(`%s
+DEFAULT CONFIGURATION:
+     CustomPath:  %s %s
+     CustomConf:  %s
+     AppPath:     %s
+     AppWorkPath: %s
+
+`, originalTemplate, setting.CustomPath, overrided, setting.CustomConf, setting.AppPath, setting.AppWorkPath)
+}
+
 func formatBuiltWith(makeTags string) string {
 	var version = runtime.Version()
 	if len(MakeVersion) > 0 {
diff --git a/models/ssh_key_test.go b/models/ssh_key_test.go
index beb4556b8b86..f310935a32b6 100644
--- a/models/ssh_key_test.go
+++ b/models/ssh_key_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func init() {
+	setting.SetCustomPathAndConf("", "")
 	setting.NewContext()
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/setting/setting.go b/modules/setting/setting.go
index 85fcbac2b1c3..692fb9820a93 100644
--- a/modules/setting/setting.go
+++ b/modules/setting/setting.go
@@ -391,12 +391,12 @@ func getAppPath() (string, error) {
 }
 
 func getWorkPath(appPath string) string {
-	workPath := ""
-	giteaWorkPath := os.Getenv("GITEA_WORK_DIR")
+	workPath := AppWorkPath
 
-	if len(giteaWorkPath) > 0 {
+	if giteaWorkPath, ok := os.LookupEnv("GITEA_WORK_DIR"); ok {
 		workPath = giteaWorkPath
-	} else {
+	}
+	if len(workPath) == 0 {
 		i := strings.LastIndex(appPath, "/")
 		if i == -1 {
 			workPath = appPath
@@ -475,27 +475,40 @@ func CheckLFSVersion() {
 	}
 }
 
-// NewContext initializes configuration context.
-// NOTE: do not print any log except error.
-func NewContext() {
-	Cfg = ini.Empty()
-
-	CustomPath = os.Getenv("GITEA_CUSTOM")
+// SetCustomPathAndConf will set CustomPath and CustomConf with reference to the
+// GITEA_CUSTOM environment variable and with provided overrides before stepping
+// back to the default
+func SetCustomPathAndConf(providedCustom, providedConf string) {
+	if giteaCustom, ok := os.LookupEnv("GITEA_CUSTOM"); ok {
+		CustomPath = giteaCustom
+	}
+	if len(providedCustom) != 0 {
+		CustomPath = providedCustom
+	}
 	if len(CustomPath) == 0 {
 		CustomPath = path.Join(AppWorkPath, "custom")
 	} else if !filepath.IsAbs(CustomPath) {
 		CustomPath = path.Join(AppWorkPath, CustomPath)
 	}
 
-	if len(CustomPID) > 0 {
-		createPIDFile(CustomPID)
+	if len(providedConf) != 0 {
+		CustomConf = providedConf
 	}
-
 	if len(CustomConf) == 0 {
 		CustomConf = path.Join(CustomPath, "conf/app.ini")
 	} else if !filepath.IsAbs(CustomConf) {
 		CustomConf = path.Join(CustomPath, CustomConf)
 	}
+}
+
+// NewContext initializes configuration context.
+// NOTE: do not print any log except error.
+func NewContext() {
+	Cfg = ini.Empty()
+
+	if len(CustomPID) > 0 {
+		createPIDFile(CustomPID)
+	}
 
 	if com.IsFile(CustomConf) {
 		if err := Cfg.Append(CustomConf); err != nil {