diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 921f851c..39b3f304 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ func overrideFromFlags(c *cli.Context, config *server.Config) error {
 }
 
 func getFlags() []cli.Flag {
+	prefix := os.Getenv("PREFIX")
+	if prefix == "" {
+		prefix = "/"
+	}
 	return []cli.Flag{
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "config, c",
@@ -125,7 +129,7 @@ func getFlags() []cli.Flag {
 		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "data-dir, d",
-			Usage: "store data in `DIR` (default: \"/tmp/liftbridge/<namespace>\")",
+			Usage: fmt.Sprintf("store data in `DIR` (default: \"%stmp/liftbridge/<namespace>\")", prefix),
 		},
 		cli.IntFlag{
 			Name:  "port, p",
diff --git a/server/server.go b/server/server.go
index cba01729..6498d56a 100644
--- a/server/server.go
+++ b/server/server.go
@@ -106,7 +106,11 @@ func RunServerWithConfig(config *Config) (*Server, error) {
 func New(config *Config) *Server {
 	// Default data path to /tmp/liftbridge/<namespace> if not set.
 	if config.DataDir == "" {
-		config.DataDir = filepath.Join("/tmp", "liftbridge", config.Clustering.Namespace)
+		prefix := os.Getenv("PREFIX")
+		if prefix == "" {
+			prefix = "/"
+		}
+		config.DataDir = filepath.Join(prefix, "tmp", "liftbridge", config.Clustering.Namespace)
 	}
 	logger := logger.NewLogger(config.LogLevel)
 	if config.LogSilent {