diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
index c592edac60..fbce45b90e 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/psql-ref.sgml
@@ -4087,17 +4087,20 @@ $endif
    </varlistentry>
 
    <varlistentry>
+    <term><envar>PSQL_PAGER</envar></term>
     <term><envar>PAGER</envar></term>
 
     <listitem>
      <para>
       If the query results do not fit on the screen, they are piped
-      through this command.  Typical values are
-      <literal>more</literal> or <literal>less</literal>.  The default
-      is platform-dependent.  Use of the pager can be disabled by setting
-      <envar>PAGER</envar> to empty, or by using pager-related options of
-      the <command>\pset</command> command.
+      through this command. Typical values are <literal>more</literal>
+      or <literal>less</literal>. The default is platform-dependent.
+      Use of the pager can be disabled by setting <envar>PSQL_PAGER</envar>
+      or <envar>PAGER</envar> to empty string, or by using pager-related
+      options of the <command>\pset</command> command. These variables
+      are examined in the order listed; the first that is set is used.
      </para>
+
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
 
diff --git a/src/bin/psql/help.c b/src/bin/psql/help.c
index b3dbb5946e..9b0b83b0bd 100644
--- a/src/bin/psql/help.c
+++ b/src/bin/psql/help.c
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ helpVariables(unsigned short int pager)
 #endif
 
 	fprintf(output, _("  COLUMNS            number of columns for wrapped format\n"));
-	fprintf(output, _("  PAGER              name of external pager program\n"));
+	fprintf(output, _("  PSQL_PAGER, PAGER  name of external pager program\n"));
 	fprintf(output, _("  PGAPPNAME          same as the application_name connection parameter\n"));
 	fprintf(output, _("  PGDATABASE         same as the dbname connection parameter\n"));
 	fprintf(output, _("  PGHOST             same as the host connection parameter\n"));
diff --git a/src/fe_utils/print.c b/src/fe_utils/print.c
index f756f767e5..8af5bbe97e 100644
--- a/src/fe_utils/print.c
+++ b/src/fe_utils/print.c
@@ -2870,7 +2870,9 @@ PageOutput(int lines, const printTableOpt *topt)
 			const char *pagerprog;
 			FILE	   *pagerpipe;
 
-			pagerprog = getenv("PAGER");
+			pagerprog = getenv("PSQL_PAGER");
+			if (!pagerprog)
+				pagerprog = getenv("PAGER");
 			if (!pagerprog)
 				pagerprog = DEFAULT_PAGER;
 			else