diff --git a/confenv/confenv.go b/confenv/confenv.go
index 9a95f7ea..5c4f9c19 100644
--- a/confenv/confenv.go
+++ b/confenv/confenv.go
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ func process(env map[string]string, envKey string, rv reflect.Value) error {
 			}
 			mapKey = strings.ToLower(mapKey)
 
+			// initialize only if there's at least one key
+			if rv.IsNil() {
+				rv.Set(reflect.MakeMap(rt))
+			}
+
 			nv := rv.MapIndex(reflect.ValueOf(mapKey))
 			zero := reflect.Value{}
 			if nv == zero {
diff --git a/main_test.go b/main_test.go
index 3d32905c..f8508538 100644
--- a/main_test.go
+++ b/main_test.go
@@ -202,6 +202,26 @@ func TestEnvironment(t *testing.T) {
 	}, pa)
 }
 
+func TestEnvironmentNoFile(t *testing.T) {
+	os.Setenv("RTSP_PATHS_CAM1_SOURCE", "rtsp://testing")
+	defer os.Unsetenv("RTSP_PATHS_CAM1_SOURCE")
+
+	p, err := testProgram("{}")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer p.close()
+
+	pa, ok := p.conf.Paths["cam1"]
+	require.Equal(t, true, ok)
+	require.Equal(t, &conf.PathConf{
+		Source: "rtsp://testing",
+		SourceUrl: func() *url.URL {
+			u, _ := url.Parse("rtsp://testing:554")
+			return u
+		}(),
+		SourceProtocol: "udp",
+	}, pa)
+}
+
 func TestPublish(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, conf := range []struct {
 		publishSoft  string