diff --git a/apps/examples/iotjs_startup/Kconfig b/apps/examples/iotjs_startup/Kconfig
index a684f9c707..9a9272f047 100644
--- a/apps/examples/iotjs_startup/Kconfig
+++ b/apps/examples/iotjs_startup/Kconfig
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ config EXAMPLES_IOTJS_STARTUP_JS_FILE
 	---help---
 		This is the name of the javascript loaded by IoT.js runtime
 
+config EXAMPLES_IOTJS_EXTRA_MODULE_PATH
+	string "Directories used for external modules lookup"
+	default "/rom/example/iotjs_modules"
+	---help---
+		This is the name of the javascript loaded by IoT.js runtime
+
 config EXAMPLES_IOTJS_STARTUP_WIFI
 	bool "Connect WiFi"
 	select WIFI_MANAGER
diff --git a/apps/examples/iotjs_startup/iotjs_startup_main.c b/apps/examples/iotjs_startup/iotjs_startup_main.c
index dc0a4e4a53..cca739193f 100644
--- a/apps/examples/iotjs_startup/iotjs_startup_main.c
+++ b/apps/examples/iotjs_startup/iotjs_startup_main.c
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@
 #define CONFIG_EXAMPLES_IOTJS_STARTUP_JS_FILE "/rom/example/index.js"
 #endif
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_EXAMPLES_IOTJS_EXTRA_MODULE_PATH
+#define CONFIG_EXAMPLES_IOTJS_EXTRA_MODULE_PATH "/rom/example/iotjs_modules"
+#endif
+
 #ifndef CONFIG_EXAMPLES_IOTJS_STARTUP_WIFI_SSID
 #define CONFIG_EXAMPLES_IOTJS_STARTUP_WIFI_SSID "public"
 #endif
@@ -112,6 +116,7 @@ int main(int argc, FAR char *argv[])
 int iotjs_startup_main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif
 {
+	setenv("IOTJS_EXTRA_MODULE_PATH", CONFIG_EXAMPLES_IOTJS_EXTRA_MODULE_PATH, 1);
 	chdir(dirname(CONFIG_EXAMPLES_IOTJS_STARTUP_JS_FILE));
 	char *targv[] = { "iotjs", CONFIG_EXAMPLES_IOTJS_STARTUP_JS_FILE };
 	int targc = 2;