diff --git a/doc/source/commands/kiwi.rst b/doc/source/commands/kiwi.rst
index 97d2c172..68f2578f 100644
--- a/doc/source/commands/kiwi.rst
+++ b/doc/source/commands/kiwi.rst
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
 
    kiwi-ng -h | --help
    kiwi-ng [--profile=<name>...]
+           [--setenv=<variable=value>...]
            [--temp-dir=<directory>]
            [--type=<build_type>]
            [--logfile=<filename>]
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
            [--config=<configfile>]
        result <command> [<args>...]
    kiwi-ng [--profile=<name>...]
+           [--setenv=<variable=value>...]
            [--shared-cache-dir=<directory>]
            [--temp-dir=<directory>]
            [--target-arch=<name>]
@@ -143,6 +145,11 @@ GLOBAL OPTIONS
   XML description. The option can be specified multiple times to
   allow a combination of profiles.
 
+--setenv=<variable=value>
+
+  export environment variable and its value into the caller
+  environment. This option can be specified multiple times
+
 --shared-cache-dir=<directory>
 
   Specify an alternative shared cache directory. The directory
diff --git a/kiwi/cli.py b/kiwi/cli.py
index 85086348..88898e0c 100644
--- a/kiwi/cli.py
+++ b/kiwi/cli.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 """
 usage: kiwi-ng -h | --help
        kiwi-ng [--profile=<name>...]
+               [--setenv=<variable=value>...]
                [--temp-dir=<directory>]
                [--target-arch=<name>]
                [--type=<build_type>]
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ usage: kiwi-ng -h | --help
                [--config=<configfile>]
            result <command> [<args>...]
        kiwi-ng [--profile=<name>...]
+               [--setenv=<variable=value>...]
                [--shared-cache-dir=<directory>]
                [--temp-dir=<directory>]
                [--target-arch=<name>]
@@ -89,6 +91,9 @@ global options for services: image, system
     --profile=<name>
         profile name, multiple profiles can be selected by passing
         this option multiple times
+    --setenv=<variable=value>
+        export environment variable and its value into the caller
+        environment. This option can be specified multiple times
     --shared-cache-dir=<directory>
         specify an alternative shared cache directory. The directory
         is shared via bind mount between the build host and image
diff --git a/kiwi/tasks/base.py b/kiwi/tasks/base.py
index 2a20efa8..21a1ee92 100644
--- a/kiwi/tasks/base.py
+++ b/kiwi/tasks/base.py
@@ -139,6 +139,12 @@ class CliTask:
             if self.global_args['--color-output']:
                 log.set_color_format()
 
+        if self.global_args['--setenv']:
+            for setenv in self.global_args['--setenv']:
+                (variable, value) = self.attr_token(setenv)
+                log.info(f'--> Set Env[{variable}]="{value}"')
+                os.environ[format(variable)] = format(value)
+
         # initialize runtime configuration
         # import RuntimeConfig late to make sure the logging setup applies
         from kiwi.runtime_config import RuntimeConfig
diff --git a/test/unit/cli_test.py b/test/unit/cli_test.py
index 1fadb1c3..d4484688 100644
--- a/test/unit/cli_test.py
+++ b/test/unit/cli_test.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class TestCli:
             '--debug-run-scripts-in-screen': False,
             'result': False,
             '--profile': [],
+            '--setenv': [],
             '--shared-cache-dir': '/var/cache/kiwi',
             '--temp-dir': '/var/tmp',
             '--target-arch': None,
diff --git a/test/unit/tasks/base_test.py b/test/unit/tasks/base_test.py
index fd34a19f..d73947c0 100644
--- a/test/unit/tasks/base_test.py
+++ b/test/unit/tasks/base_test.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class TestCliTask:
             '--loglevel': None,
             '--color-output': True,
             '--profile': ['vmxFlavour'],
+            '--setenv': ['SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH=42'],
             '--type': None
         }
         mock_command_args.return_value = {
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ class TestCliTask:
             '--loglevel': None,
             '--color-output': True,
             '--profile': ['vmxFlavour'],
+            '--setenv': [],
             '--type': None
         }
         self.task = CliTask()
@@ -120,6 +122,7 @@ class TestCliTask:
             '--debug-run-scripts-in-screen': None,
             '--color-output': None,
             '--loglevel': '10',
+            '--setenv': []
         }
         self.task = CliTask()
         mock_setLogLevel.assert_called_once_with(10)
@@ -141,6 +144,7 @@ class TestCliTask:
             '--debug-run-scripts-in-screen': None,
             '--color-output': None,
             '--loglevel': 'bogus',
+            '--setenv': []
         }
         self.task = CliTask()
         mock_setLogLevel.assert_called_once_with(20)