diff --git a/usr.sbin/cdcontrol/cdcontrol.c b/usr.sbin/cdcontrol/cdcontrol.c
index 0161bdd2a90..7af88374e04 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/cdcontrol/cdcontrol.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/cdcontrol/cdcontrol.c
@@ -197,6 +197,10 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
 	if (argc > 0 && ! strcasecmp (*argv, "help"))
 		usage ();
 
+	if (! cdname) {
+		cdname = getenv("CDROM");
+	}
+
 	if (! cdname) {
 		cdname = DEFAULT_CD_DRIVE;
 		warnx("no CD device name specified, defaulting to %s", cdname);