diff --git a/DAMASK_env.sh b/DAMASK_env.sh
index 7bd021478..1fda426e0 100644
--- a/DAMASK_env.sh
+++ b/DAMASK_env.sh
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ else
   LOCATION=${STAT##* }
 fi
 export DAMASK_ROOT=${LOCATION}
-export DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=2
 source $DAMASK_ROOT/installation/options
+if [ "x$DAMASK_NUM_THREADS" != "x" ] 
+  then export DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=$DAMASK_NUM_THREADS
+fi
 export FFTWROOT=${FFTWROOT}
 LD_NEW=$FFTWROOT/lib
 if [ "x$LAPACKROOT" != "x" ] 
diff --git a/installation/options b/installation/options
index 54d26200e..6c07254ed 100644
--- a/installation/options
+++ b/installation/options
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ ACMLROOT=
 IMKLROOT=
 F90=gfortran
 MSCROOT=/msc
+DAMASK_NUM_THREADS=2