diff --git a/_pytest/helpconfig.py b/_pytest/helpconfig.py
index b445dcfc3..1df0c56ac 100644
--- a/_pytest/helpconfig.py
+++ b/_pytest/helpconfig.py
@@ -80,8 +80,18 @@ def showhelp(config):
         line = "  %-24s %s" %(spec, help)
         tw.line(line[:tw.fullwidth])
 
-    tw.line() ; tw.line()
-    #tw.sep("=")
+    tw.line()
+    tw.line("environment variables:")
+    vars = [
+        ("PYTEST_ADDOPTS", "extra command line options"),
+        ("PYTEST_PLUGINS", "comma-separated plugins to load during startup"),
+        ("PYTEST_DEBUG", "set to enable debug tracing of pytest's internals")
+    ]
+    for name, help in vars:
+        tw.line("  %-24s %s" % (name, help))
+    tw.line()
+    tw.line()
+
     tw.line("to see available markers type: py.test --markers")
     tw.line("to see available fixtures type: py.test --fixtures")
     tw.line("(shown according to specified file_or_dir or current dir "