diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 599b52b9e..6ae21e914 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ erl_crash.dump
 # variables.
 /config/*.secret.exs
 /config/generated_config.exs
+/config/*.env
+
 
 # Database setup file, some may forget to delete it
 /config/setup_db.psql
diff --git a/docs/administration/CLI_tasks/release_environments.md b/docs/administration/CLI_tasks/release_environments.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..36ab43864
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/administration/CLI_tasks/release_environments.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Generate release environment file
+
+```sh tab="OTP"
+ ./bin/pleroma_ctl release_env gen
+```
+
+```sh tab="From Source"
+mix pleroma.release_env gen
+```
diff --git a/docs/installation/otp_en.md b/docs/installation/otp_en.md
index e4f822d1c..e115c2297 100644
--- a/docs/installation/otp_en.md
+++ b/docs/installation/otp_en.md
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ chown -R pleroma /etc/pleroma
 # Run the config generator
 su pleroma -s $SHELL -lc "./bin/pleroma_ctl instance gen --output /etc/pleroma/config.exs --output-psql /tmp/setup_db.psql"
 
+# Run the environment file generator.
+su pleroma -s $SHELL -lc "./bin/pleroma_ctl release_env gen"
+
 # Create the postgres database
 su postgres -s $SHELL -lc "psql -f /tmp/setup_db.psql"
 
@@ -131,7 +134,7 @@ su pleroma -s $SHELL -lc "./bin/pleroma_ctl migrate"
 # su pleroma -s $SHELL -lc "./bin/pleroma_ctl migrate --migrations-path priv/repo/optional_migrations/rum_indexing/"
 
 # Start the instance to verify that everything is working as expected
-su pleroma -s $SHELL -lc "./bin/pleroma daemon"
+su pleroma -s $SHELL -lc "export $( cat /opt/pleroma/config/pleroma.env | xargs); ./bin/pleroma daemon"
 
 # Wait for about 20 seconds and query the instance endpoint, if it shows your uri, name and email correctly, you are configured correctly
 sleep 20 && curl http://localhost:4000/api/v1/instance
@@ -200,6 +203,7 @@ rc-update add pleroma
 # Copy the service into a proper directory
 cp /opt/pleroma/installation/pleroma.service /etc/systemd/system/pleroma.service
 
+
 # Start pleroma and enable it on boot
 systemctl start pleroma
 systemctl enable pleroma
@@ -275,4 +279,3 @@ This will create an account withe the username of 'joeuser' with the email addre
 ## Questions
 
 Questions about the installation or didn’t it work as it should be, ask in [#pleroma:matrix.org](https://matrix.heldscal.la/#/room/#freenode_#pleroma:matrix.org) or IRC Channel **#pleroma** on **Freenode**.
-
diff --git a/installation/pleroma.service b/installation/pleroma.service
index 5dcbc1387..ee00a3b7a 100644
--- a/installation/pleroma.service
+++ b/installation/pleroma.service
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ Environment="MIX_ENV=prod"
 Environment="HOME=/var/lib/pleroma"
 ; Path to the folder containing the Pleroma installation.
 WorkingDirectory=/opt/pleroma
+; Path to the environment file. the file contains RELEASE_COOKIE and etc 
+EnvironmentFile=/opt/pleroma/config/pleroma.env
 ; Path to the Mix binary.
 ExecStart=/usr/bin/mix phx.server
 
diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/release_env.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/release_env.ex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cbbbdeff6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/release_env.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2020 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.ReleaseEnv do
+  use Mix.Task
+  import Mix.Pleroma
+
+  @shortdoc "Generate Pleroma environment file."
+  @moduledoc File.read!("docs/administration/CLI_tasks/release_environments.md")
+
+  def run(["gen" | rest]) do
+    {options, [], []} =
+      OptionParser.parse(
+        rest,
+        strict: [
+          force: :boolean,
+          path: :string
+        ],
+        aliases: [
+          p: :path,
+          f: :force
+        ]
+      )
+
+    env_path =
+      get_option(
+        options,
+        :path,
+        "Environment file path",
+        "config/pleroma.env"
+      )
+      |> Path.expand()
+
+    proceed? =
+      if File.exists?(env_path) do
+        get_option(
+          options,
+          :force,
+          "Environment file is exist. Do you want overwritten the #{env_path} file? (y/n)",
+          "n"
+        ) === "y"
+      else
+        true
+      end
+
+    if proceed? do
+      do_generate(env_path)
+
+      shell_info(
+        "The file generated: #{env_path}.\nTo use the enviroment file need to add the line ';EnvironmentFile=#{
+          env_path
+        }' in service file (/installation/pleroma.service)."
+      )
+    end
+  end
+
+  def do_generate(path) do
+    content = "RELEASE_COOKIE=#{Base.encode32(:crypto.strong_rand_bytes(32))}"
+
+    File.mkdir_p!(Path.dirname(path))
+    File.write!(path, content)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/tasks/release_env_test.exs b/test/tasks/release_env_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..519f1eba9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/tasks/release_env_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2020 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.ReleaseEnvTest do
+  use ExUnit.Case
+  import ExUnit.CaptureIO, only: [capture_io: 1]
+
+  @path "config/pleroma.test.env"
+
+  def do_clean do
+    if File.exists?(@path) do
+      File.rm_rf(@path)
+    end
+  end
+
+  setup do
+    do_clean()
+    on_exit(fn -> do_clean() end)
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  test "generate pleroma.env" do
+    assert capture_io(fn ->
+             Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.ReleaseEnv.run(["gen", "--path", @path, "--force"])
+           end) =~ "The file generated"
+
+    assert File.read!(@path) =~ "RELEASE_COOKIE="
+  end
+end