diff --git a/cmd/age/age.go b/cmd/age/age.go
index f81d3bba..b4ac6492 100644
--- a/cmd/age/age.go
+++ b/cmd/age/age.go
@@ -286,7 +286,12 @@ func main() {
 	}
 }
 
-func passphrasePromptForEncryption() (string, error) {
+func passphraseForEncryption() (string, error) {
+	passFromEnv := os.Getenv("AGE_PASSPHRASE")
+	if passFromEnv != "" {
+		return passFromEnv, nil
+	}
+
 	pass, err := readSecret("Enter passphrase (leave empty to autogenerate a secure one):")
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("could not read passphrase: %v", err)
@@ -359,7 +364,7 @@ func encryptNotPass(recs, files []string, identities identityFlags, in io.Reader
 }
 
 func encryptPass(in io.Reader, out io.Writer, armor bool) {
-	pass, err := passphrasePromptForEncryption()
+	pass, err := passphraseForEncryption()
 	if err != nil {
 		errorf("%v", err)
 	}
@@ -440,7 +445,7 @@ func decryptPass(in io.Reader, out io.Writer) {
 	identities := []age.Identity{
 		// If there is an scrypt recipient (it will have to be the only one and)
 		// this identity will be invoked.
-		&LazyScryptIdentity{passphrasePromptForDecryption},
+		&LazyScryptIdentity{passphraseForDecryption},
 	}
 
 	decrypt(identities, in, out)
@@ -470,7 +475,11 @@ func decrypt(identities []age.Identity, in io.Reader, out io.Writer) {
 	}
 }
 
-func passphrasePromptForDecryption() (string, error) {
+func passphraseForDecryption() (string, error) {
+	passFromEnv := os.Getenv("AGE_PASSPHRASE")
+	if passFromEnv != "" {
+		return passFromEnv, nil
+	}
 	pass, err := readSecret("Enter passphrase:")
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("could not read passphrase: %v", err)
diff --git a/doc/age.1.ronn b/doc/age.1.ronn
index 1d71a4b4..50214b76 100644
--- a/doc/age.1.ronn
+++ b/doc/age.1.ronn
@@ -14,14 +14,16 @@ optional and defaults to standard input. Only a single <INPUT> file may be
 specified. If `-o` is not specified, <OUTPUT> defaults to standard output.
 
 If `-p`/`--passphrase` is specified, the file is encrypted with a passphrase
-requested interactively. Otherwise, it's encrypted to one or more
+requested either interactively, or through the AGE_PASSPHRASE environment
+variable. Otherwise, it's encrypted to one or more
 [RECIPIENTS][RECIPIENTS AND IDENTITIES] specified with `-r`/`--recipient` or
 `-R`/`--recipients-file`. Every recipient can decrypt the file.
 
 In `-d`/`--decrypt` mode, passphrase-encrypted files are detected automatically
-and the passphrase is requested interactively. Otherwise, one or more
-[IDENTITIES][RECIPIENTS AND IDENTITIES] specified with `-i`/`--identity` are
-used to decrypt the file.
+and the passphrase is requested either interactively, or read from the
+AGE_PASSPHRASE environment variable.
+Otherwise, one or more [IDENTITIES][RECIPIENTS AND IDENTITIES] specified
+with `-i`/`--identity` are used to decrypt the file.
 
 `age` encrypted files are binary and not malleable, with around 200 bytes of
 overhead per recipient, plus 16 bytes every 64KiB of plaintext.
@@ -62,8 +64,10 @@ overhead per recipient, plus 16 bytes every 64KiB of plaintext.
     and the file can be decrypted by all provided recipients independently.
 
 * `-p`, `--passphrase`:
-    Encrypt with a passphrase, requested interactively from the terminal.
+    Encrypt with a passphrase, requested either:
+    - interactively from the terminal.
     `age` will offer to auto-generate a secure passphrase.
+    - through the AGE_PASSPHRASE environment variable.
 
     This option can't be used with other recipient flags.