diff --git a/docker_templates/templates/docker_images/create_ros_image.Dockerfile.em b/docker_templates/templates/docker_images/create_ros_image.Dockerfile.em
index 56b2dc3..c9c3d07 100644
--- a/docker_templates/templates/docker_images/create_ros_image.Dockerfile.em
+++ b/docker_templates/templates/docker_images/create_ros_image.Dockerfile.em
@@ -29,3 +29,11 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
 
 @[  end if]@
 @[end if]@
+@[if 'post_env' in locals()]@
+@[  if post_env]@
+# set environment variables
+@[    for env_key, env_value in post_env.items()]@
+ENV @(env_key) @(env_value)
+@[    end for]@
+@[  end if]@
+@[end if]@