diff --git a/mara_cli/_config.py b/mara_cli/_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba7285c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mara_cli/_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import os
+import pathlib
+import sys
+import importlib.util
+
+
+def try_import_mara_config():
+    """Tries to find and import a `mara_config.py` file."""
+    if 'mara_config' in sys.modules:
+        print("A module with name 'mara_config' is already imported.", file=sys.stderr)
+        return
+
+    mara_config_path = pathlib.Path(os.environ.get('MARA_CONFIG', ''))
+
+    if mara_config_path.is_dir():
+        mara_config_path = mara_config_path / 'mara_config.py'
+
+    if not mara_config_path.exists():
+        # the mara_config file does not exist in the config path
+        return
+
+    try:
+        spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location('mara_config', location=mara_config_path.absolute())
+        module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+        sys.modules[spec.name] = module
+        spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise ImportError(f"Could not import mara_config.py file '{mara_config_path.absolute()}'") from e
diff --git a/mara_cli/cli.py b/mara_cli/cli.py
index d4bac32..32c5fd5 100644
--- a/mara_cli/cli.py
+++ b/mara_cli/cli.py
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ def setup_commandline_commands():
         logging.root.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
         log.debug("Enabled debug output via commandline")
 
+    # tries to import a mara config file if it can be found
+    from ._config import try_import_mara_config
+    try_import_mara_config()
+
     if sys.version_info < (3, 10):
         from importlib_metadata import entry_points
     else: