diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index e044123..ea040ab 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -239,7 +239,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 #endif /* HAVE_MTRACE */
 #endif /* HAVE_MCHECK_H */
 
-	myname = gawk_name(argv[0]);
+	if (!(myname = getenv("GAWK_ERROR_NAME")) || !*myname)
+		myname = gawk_name(argv[0]);
 	os_arg_fixup(&argc, &argv); /* emulate redirection, expand wildcards */
 
 	if (argc < 2)