diff --git a/swarm.go b/swarm.go
index c812f37565bc2f92f93ab6c392650aecb8b81efe..d31c03a63f2810e5ae4b4932f506d39f57ffd395 100644
--- a/swarm.go
+++ b/swarm.go
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ package swarm
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -48,6 +50,11 @@ func init() {
 	msstpt.AddTransport("/yamux/1.0.0", ymxtpt)
 	msstpt.AddTransport("/spdy/3.1.0", spdy.Transport)
 
+	// allow overriding of muxer preferences
+	if prefs := os.Getenv("LIBP2P_MUX_PREFS"); prefs != "" {
+		msstpt.OrderPreference = strings.Fields(prefs)
+	}
+
 	PSTransport = msstpt
 }