diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 35e022e..add45e8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -109,10 +109,12 @@ the search view.
 Configuration is saved to `~/.config/ncspot/config.toml`. Possible configuration
 values are:
 
-* `proxy`: Set an HTTP proxy
 * `use_nerdfont`: Turn nerdfont glyphs on/off <true/false>
 * `theme`: Set a custom color palette (see below)
 
+ncspot will respect system proxy settings defined via the `http_proxy`
+environment variable.
+
 ### Theming
 
 The color palette can be modified in the configuration. For instance, to have
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 8dbbeaa..b26f511 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub keybindings: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
     pub theme: Option<ConfigTheme>,
     pub use_nerdfont: Option<bool>,
-    pub proxy: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Default, Clone)]
diff --git a/src/spotify.rs b/src/spotify.rs
index b86911c..9a0ad6b 100644
--- a/src/spotify.rs
+++ b/src/spotify.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ use tokio_core::reactor::Core;
 use tokio_timer;
 use url::Url;
 
+use std::env;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU16, Ordering};
 use std::sync::RwLock;
 use std::thread;
@@ -246,8 +247,12 @@ impl Spotify {
 
     pub fn session_config(cfg: &Config) -> SessionConfig {
         let mut session_config = SessionConfig::default();
-        if let Some(ref proxy) = cfg.proxy {
-            session_config.proxy = Url::parse(&proxy).ok();
+        match env::var("http_proxy") {
+            Ok(proxy) => {
+                info!("Setting HTTP proxy {}", proxy);
+                session_config.proxy = Url::parse(&proxy).ok();
+            }
+            Err(_) => debug!("No HTTP proxy set"),
         }
         session_config
     }