diff --git a/backupbot.py b/backupbot.py
index 0b0e0a6..34604a9 100755
--- a/backupbot.py
+++ b/backupbot.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ sys.excepthook = handle_exception
 @click.option('-l', '--log', 'loglevel')
 @click.option('-m', '--machine-logs', 'machine_logs', is_flag=True)
 @click.option('service', '--host', '-h', envvar='SERVICE')
-@click.option('repository', '--repo', '-r', envvar='RESTIC_REPOSITORY', required=True)
+@click.option('repository', '--repo', '-r', envvar='RESTIC_REPOSITORY')
 def cli(loglevel, service, repository, machine_logs):
     global SERVICE
     if service:
@@ -66,9 +66,13 @@ def cli(loglevel, service, repository, machine_logs):
 
 
 def init_repo():
-    repo = os.environ['RESTIC_REPOSITORY']
+    if repo:= os.environ['RESTIC_REPOSITORY_FILE']:
+        # RESTIC_REPOSITORY_FILE and RESTIC_REPOSITORY are mutually exclusive
+        del os.environ['RESTIC_REPOSITORY']
+    else:
+        repo = os.environ['RESTIC_REPOSITORY']
+        restic.repository = repo
     logger.debug(f"set restic repository location: {repo}")
-    restic.repository = repo
     restic.password_file = '/var/run/secrets/restic_password'
     try:
         restic.cat.config()