diff --git a/scrapy/trunk/scrapy/conf/__init__.py b/scrapy/trunk/scrapy/conf/__init__.py
index eef6a1717..cd32f0802 100644
--- a/scrapy/trunk/scrapy/conf/__init__.py
+++ b/scrapy/trunk/scrapy/conf/__init__.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class Settings(object):
     def __init__(self):
         self.overrides = {}
         self.settings = self._import(SETTINGS_MODULE)
-        pickled_defaults = os.environ.get("SCRAPY_PICKLED_DEFAULT_SETTINGS")
+        pickled_defaults = os.environ.get("SCRAPY_PICKLED_SETTINGS")
         self.defaults = pickle.loads(pickled_defaults) if pickled_defaults else {}
         self.core = self._import('scrapy.conf.core_settings')