diff --git a/plotly/files.py b/plotly/files.py
index 9668f144b13..a8aef7bb506 100644
--- a/plotly/files.py
+++ b/plotly/files.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 import os
 
 # file structure
-PLOTLY_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".plotly")
+PLOTLY_DIR = os.environ.get("PLOTLY_DIR", os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".plotly"))
 CREDENTIALS_FILE = os.path.join(PLOTLY_DIR, ".credentials")
 CONFIG_FILE = os.path.join(PLOTLY_DIR, ".config")
-TEST_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".test")
 TEST_FILE = os.path.join(PLOTLY_DIR, ".permission_test")
 
 # this sets both the DEFAULTS and the TYPES for these files
@@ -22,11 +21,8 @@
                               'sharing': 'public',
                               'auto_open': True}}
 
-
 def _permissions():
     try:
-        os.mkdir(TEST_DIR)
-        os.rmdir(TEST_DIR)
         if not os.path.exists(PLOTLY_DIR):
             os.mkdir(PLOTLY_DIR)
         with open(TEST_FILE, 'w') as f: