diff --git a/.env.template b/.env.template
index ca710a43..fb29e7aa 100644
--- a/.env.template
+++ b/.env.template
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ HTTPS_PORT=443
 # DB_PASSWORD=
 # DB_NAME=
 
+# Optional: configure data directory
+# DATA_DIR=
+
 # Optional: configure a custom mail server
 # EMAIL_FROM=
 # EMAIL_HOST=
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6a1c9041..2a4346af 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@
 /files/mail/rsa.public
 
 /files/dkim/*
+
+/data/transfer/*
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index c237608f..2bbc6caf 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ services:
       - enketo
     volumes:
       - secrets:/etc/secrets
-      - /data/transfer:/data/transfer
+      - ${DATA_DIR:-./data/transfer}:/data/transfer
     environment:
       - DOMAIN=${DOMAIN}
       - SYSADMIN_EMAIL=${SYSADMIN_EMAIL}