diff --git a/src/rebar_plugins.erl b/src/rebar_plugins.erl
index f2d22233..bee2cf18 100644
--- a/src/rebar_plugins.erl
+++ b/src/rebar_plugins.erl
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ project_plugins_install(State) ->
 top_level_install(State) ->
     Profiles = rebar_state:current_profiles(State),
     lists:foldl(fun(Profile, StateAcc) ->
-                        Plugins = rebar_state:get(State, {plugins, Profile}, []),
+                        Plugins = rebar_state:get(State, {plugins, Profile}, [])
+                            ++ [list_to_atom(P) || P <- string:lexemes(os:getenv("REBAR_GLOBAL_PLUGINS", ""), " ")],
                         handle_plugins(Profile, Plugins, StateAcc)
                 end, State, Profiles).