diff --git a/rhodecode/config/environment.py b/rhodecode/config/environment.py
--- a/rhodecode/config/environment.py
+++ b/rhodecode/config/environment.py
@@ -85,3 +85,38 @@ def load_pyramid_environment(global_conf
 
     if vcs_server_enabled:
         connect_vcs(vcs_server_uri, utils.get_vcs_server_protocol(settings))
+
+
+def get_rc_env_settings(prefix='ENV_{}'):
+    return {'ENV_{}'.format(key): value for key, value in os.environ.items()}
+
+
+def substitute_values(mapping, substitutions):
+    result = {}
+
+    try:
+        for key, value in mapping.items():
+            # initialize without substitution first
+            result[key] = value
+
+            # Note: Cannot use regular replacements, since they would clash
+            # with the implementation of ConfigParser. Using "format" instead.
+            try:
+                result[key] = value.format(**substitutions)
+            except KeyError as e:
+                env_var = '{}'.format(e.args[0])
+
+                msg = 'Failed to substitute: `{key}={{{var}}}` with environment entry. ' \
+                      'Make sure your environment has {var} set, or remove this ' \
+                      'variable from config file'.format(key=key, var=env_var)
+
+                if env_var.startswith('ENV_'):
+                    raise ValueError(msg)
+                else:
+                    log.warning(msg)
+
+    except ValueError as e:
+        log.warning('Failed to substitute ENV variable: %s', e)
+        result = mapping
+
+    return result
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rhodecode/config/middleware.py b/rhodecode/config/middleware.py
--- a/rhodecode/config/middleware.py
+++ b/rhodecode/config/middleware.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ from pyramid.renderers import render_to_
 from rhodecode.model import meta
 from rhodecode.config import patches
 from rhodecode.config import utils as config_utils
-from rhodecode.config.environment import load_pyramid_environment
+from rhodecode.config.environment import load_pyramid_environment, substitute_values, get_rc_env_settings
 
 import rhodecode.events
 from rhodecode.lib.middleware.vcs import VCSMiddleware
@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@ def make_pyramid_app(global_config, **se
     start_time = time.time()
     log.info('Pyramid app config starting')
 
+    global_config = substitute_values(global_config, get_rc_env_settings())
+    settings = substitute_values(settings, get_rc_env_settings())
+
     # init and bootstrap StatsdClient
     StatsdClient.setup(settings)
 
@@ -100,11 +103,6 @@ def make_pyramid_app(global_config, **se
     if debug:
         enable_debug()
 
-    environ = {'ENV_{}'.format(key): value for key, value in os.environ.items()}
-
-    global_config = _substitute_values(global_config, environ)
-    settings = _substitute_values(settings, environ)
-
     sanitize_settings_and_apply_defaults(global_config, settings)
 
     config = Configurator(settings=settings)
@@ -761,34 +759,3 @@ def _string_setting(settings, name, defa
         value = value.lower()
     settings[name] = value
     return settings[name]
-
-
-def _substitute_values(mapping, substitutions):
-    result = {}
-
-    try:
-        for key, value in mapping.items():
-            # initialize without substitution first
-            result[key] = value
-
-            # Note: Cannot use regular replacements, since they would clash
-            # with the implementation of ConfigParser. Using "format" instead.
-            try:
-                result[key] = value.format(**substitutions)
-            except KeyError as e:
-                env_var = '{}'.format(e.args[0])
-
-                msg = 'Failed to substitute: `{key}={{{var}}}` with environment entry. ' \
-                      'Make sure your environment has {var} set, or remove this ' \
-                      'variable from config file'.format(key=key, var=env_var)
-
-                if env_var.startswith('ENV_'):
-                    raise ValueError(msg)
-                else:
-                    log.warning(msg)
-
-    except ValueError as e:
-        log.warning('Failed to substitute ENV variable: %s', e)
-        result = mapping
-
-    return result