diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 759d01f..8a231f8 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ MATOMO_PASSWORD=
 # For production (optional for others)
 UPDATE_EFO_BOT_PASSWORD=
 MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_KEY=
+MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_URL=
 MW_RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY=
 MW_RECAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY=
 RESTIC_PASSWORD=
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 918722a..53f40f1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ If changed, ensure corresponding database passwords (`MW_DB_PASS` in the web sec
 - `MW_LOAD_EXTENSIONS` provided as comma-separated list of MediaWiki extensions to load during container startup
 - `MW_LOAD_SKINS` comma-separated list of MediaWiki skins available for use
 - `MW_SEARCH_TYPE` configures the search backend (typically `CirrusSearch`)
+- `MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_URL` optionally sets custom URL for the NCBI API endpoint
 - `MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_KEY`, `MW_RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY`, `MW_RECAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY` optional/requested third-party API keys
 - `MW_ENABLE_SITEMAP_GENERATOR` enables sitemap generator script on production (`true/false`)
 
diff --git a/_settings/LocalSettings.php b/_settings/LocalSettings.php
index ef86053..7d6311f 100644
--- a/_settings/LocalSettings.php
+++ b/_settings/LocalSettings.php
@@ -156,6 +156,9 @@
 
 //wfLoadExtension( 'NCBITaxonomyLookup' );
 $wgNCBITaxonomyLookupCacheTTL = 1296000; # 15 days
+if ( getenv( 'MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_URL' ) ) {
+	$wgNCBITaxonomyLookupApiURL = getenv( 'MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_URL' );
+}
 $wgNCBITaxonomyApiKey = getenv( 'MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_KEY' );
 $wgNCBITaxonomyApiTimeout = 30;
 $wgNCBITaxonomyLookupCacheRandomizeTTL = true;
diff --git a/compose.yml b/compose.yml
index 5fe5884..6d98c79 100644
--- a/compose.yml
+++ b/compose.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ services:
             - MW_DB_NAME=mediawiki
             - MW_DB_PASS=${MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD?Variable MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD not set}
             - MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_KEY=${MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_KEY:-}
+            - MW_NCBI_TAXONOMY_API_URL
             - MW_RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY=${MW_RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY:-}
             - MW_RECAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY=${MW_RECAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY:-}
             - MW_ADMIN_USER=admin