diff --git a/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix b/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
index 51b472fcf9ce..2375d15b3813 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
@@ -124,6 +124,16 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ... }: {
                 f"docker run --rm  ${examples.layersOrder.imageName} cat /tmp/layer{index}"
             )
 
+    with subtest("Ensure environment variables are correctly inherited"):
+        docker.succeed(
+            "docker load --input='${examples.environmentVariables}'"
+        )
+        out = docker.succeed("docker run --rm ${examples.environmentVariables.imageName} env")
+        env = out.splitlines()
+        assert "FROM_PARENT=true" in env, "envvars from the parent should be preserved"
+        assert "FROM_CHILD=true" in env, "envvars from the child should be preserved"
+        assert "LAST_LAYER=child" in env, "envvars from the child should take priority"
+
     with subtest("Ensure image with only 2 layers can be loaded"):
         docker.succeed(
             "docker load --input='${examples.two-layered-image}'"
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
index bee6e37cccbb..f2a1378b8b27 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
@@ -773,13 +773,17 @@ rec {
 
         mkdir image
         touch baseFiles
+        baseEnvs='[]'
         if [[ -n "$fromImage" ]]; then
           echo "Unpacking base image..."
           tar -C image -xpf "$fromImage"
 
+          # Store the layers and the environment variables from the base image
           cat ./image/manifest.json  | jq -r '.[0].Layers | .[]' > layer-list
+          configName="$(cat ./image/manifest.json | jq -r '.[0].Config')"
+          baseEnvs="$(cat "./image/$configName" | jq '.config.Env // []')"
 
-          # Do not import the base image configuration and manifest
+          # Otherwise do not import the base image configuration and manifest
           chmod a+w image image/*.json
           rm -f image/*.json
 
@@ -859,7 +863,8 @@ rec {
         ) | sponge layer-list
 
         # Create image json and image manifest
-        imageJson=$(cat ${baseJson} | jq ". + {\"rootfs\": {\"diff_ids\": [], \"type\": \"layers\"}}")
+        imageJson=$(cat ${baseJson} | jq '.config.Env = $baseenv + .config.Env' --argjson baseenv "$baseEnvs")
+        imageJson=$(echo "$imageJson" | jq ". + {\"rootfs\": {\"diff_ids\": [], \"type\": \"layers\"}}")
         manifestJson=$(jq -n "[{\"RepoTags\":[\"$imageName:$imageTag\"]}]")
 
         for layerTar in $(cat ./layer-list); do
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix b/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
index f42b35e64943..c6cf595da103 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
@@ -231,14 +231,41 @@ rec {
     '';
   };
 
-  # 14. Create another layered image, for comparing layers with image 10.
+  # 14. Environment variable inheritance.
+  # Child image should inherit parents environment variables,
+  # optionally overriding them.
+  environmentVariables = let
+    parent = pkgs.dockerTools.buildImage {
+      name = "parent";
+      tag = "latest";
+      config = {
+        Env = [
+          "FROM_PARENT=true"
+          "LAST_LAYER=parent"
+        ];
+      };
+    };
+  in pkgs.dockerTools.buildImage {
+    name = "child";
+    fromImage = parent;
+    tag = "latest";
+    contents = [ pkgs.coreutils ];
+    config = {
+      Env = [
+        "FROM_CHILD=true"
+        "LAST_LAYER=child"
+      ];
+    };
+  };
+
+  # 15. Create another layered image, for comparing layers with image 10.
   another-layered-image = pkgs.dockerTools.buildLayeredImage {
     name = "another-layered-image";
     tag = "latest";
     config.Cmd = [ "${pkgs.hello}/bin/hello" ];
   };
 
-  # 15. Create a layered image with only 2 layers
+  # 16. Create a layered image with only 2 layers
   two-layered-image = pkgs.dockerTools.buildLayeredImage {
     name = "two-layered-image";
     tag = "latest";
@@ -247,7 +274,7 @@ rec {
     maxLayers = 2;
   };
 
-  # 16. Create a layered image with more packages than max layers.
+  # 17. Create a layered image with more packages than max layers.
   # coreutils and hello are part of the same layer
   bulk-layer = pkgs.dockerTools.buildLayeredImage {
     name = "bulk-layer";
@@ -258,7 +285,7 @@ rec {
     maxLayers = 2;
   };
 
-  # 17. Create a "layered" image without nix store layers. This is not
+  # 18. Create a "layered" image without nix store layers. This is not
   # recommended, but can be useful for base images in rare cases.
   no-store-paths = pkgs.dockerTools.buildLayeredImage {
     name = "no-store-paths";