diff --git a/debian/conf/gitlab b/debian/conf/gitlab
index 87ec26ff39..7762273ac4 100755
--- a/debian/conf/gitlab
+++ b/debian/conf/gitlab
@@ -10,13 +10,16 @@ RAILS_ENV="production"
 # Database selection
 export DB="postgres"
 
+# Read debian specific configuration
+. /etc/gitlab/gitlab-debian.conf
+
 # app_user defines the user that GitLab is run as.
 # The default is "git".
-app_user="gitlab"
+app_user=${gitlab_user}
 
 # app_root defines the folder in which gitlab and it's components are installed.
 # The default is "/home/$app_user/gitlab"
-app_root="/usr/share/gitlab"
+app_root=${gitlab_home}
 
 # pid_path defines a folder in which the gitlab and it's components place their pids.
 # This variable is also used below to define the relevant pids for the gitlab components.