diff --git a/docs/api/config-options.md b/docs/api/config-options.md
index d92258908..7fd7307ca 100644
--- a/docs/api/config-options.md
+++ b/docs/api/config-options.md
@@ -49,6 +49,22 @@ Valid Options are `x64`, `arm64`
 
 [See here for what versions are available for what architectures](https://www.mongodb.com/download-center/community/releases/archive)
 
+### DISTRO
+
+| Environment Variable | PackageJson |
+| :------------------: | :---------: |
+|   `MONGOMS_DISTRO`   |  `distro`   |
+
+Option `DISTRO` is used to overwrite the Distribution used instead of the detected one.
+
+Only works for when [`PLATFORM`](#platform) (automatic or manually set) is `linux`.
+
+Format is `distro-release`, both distro and release need to be always defined.
+
+Example: `ubuntu-18.04`
+
+[See here for what versions are available for what distros](https://www.mongodb.com/download-center/community/releases/archive)
+
 ### VERSION
 
 | Environment Variable | PackageJson |
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/MongoBinaryDownloadUrl.ts b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/MongoBinaryDownloadUrl.ts
index f93d2bdd3..0a2e1a35c 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/MongoBinaryDownloadUrl.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/MongoBinaryDownloadUrl.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import * as semver from 'semver';
 import { isNullOrUndefined } from './utils';
 import { URL } from 'url';
 import {
+  GenericMMSError,
   KnownVersionIncompatibilityError,
   UnknownArchitectureError,
   UnknownLinuxDistro,
@@ -160,10 +161,14 @@ export class MongoBinaryDownloadUrl implements MongoBinaryDownloadUrlOpts {
    * (from: https://www.mongodb.org/dl/linux)
    */
   async getArchiveNameLinux(): Promise<string> {
-    if (!this.os) {
+    if (!this.os && resolveConfig(ResolveConfigVariables.DISTRO)) {
       this.os = await getOS();
     }
 
+    if (resolveConfig(ResolveConfigVariables.DISTRO)) {
+      this.overwriteDistro();
+    }
+
     const osString: string = this.getLinuxOSVersionString(this.os as LinuxOS);
 
     // this is below, to allow overwriting the arch (like arm64 to aarch64)
@@ -179,6 +184,38 @@ export class MongoBinaryDownloadUrl implements MongoBinaryDownloadUrlOpts {
     return name;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Parse and apply config option DISTRO
+   */
+  protected overwriteDistro() {
+    const env = resolveConfig(ResolveConfigVariables.DISTRO);
+
+    if (isNullOrUndefined(env)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const split = env.split('-');
+
+    const distro = split[0];
+    const release = split[1];
+
+    if (isNullOrUndefined(distro)) {
+      throw new GenericMMSError('Expected DISTRO option to have a distro like "ubuntu-18.04"');
+    }
+
+    if (isNullOrUndefined(release)) {
+      throw new GenericMMSError(
+        'Expected DISTRO option to have a release like "ubuntu-18.04" (delimited by "-")'
+      );
+    }
+
+    this.os = {
+      os: 'linux',
+      dist: distro,
+      release: release,
+    } as LinuxOS;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get the version string (with distro)
    * @param os LinuxOS Object
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/__tests__/MongoBinaryDownloadUrl.test.ts b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/__tests__/MongoBinaryDownloadUrl.test.ts
index d9520df50..474cee64f 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/__tests__/MongoBinaryDownloadUrl.test.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/__tests__/MongoBinaryDownloadUrl.test.ts
@@ -1735,6 +1735,41 @@ describe('MongoBinaryDownloadUrl', () => {
         expect(err.message).toStrictEqual('Unknown/unsupported linux "unknown" id_like\'s: []');
       }
     });
+
+    describe('wrap config options', () => {
+      const originalEnv = process.env;
+
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        process.env = originalEnv;
+      });
+
+      afterAll(() => {
+        process.env = originalEnv;
+      });
+
+      it('should apply config option DISTRO', async () => {
+        const du = new MongoBinaryDownloadUrl({
+          platform: 'linux',
+          arch: 'x64',
+          version: '5.0.0',
+          os: {
+            os: 'linux',
+            dist: 'unknown',
+            release: '0',
+            codename: 'unknown',
+          },
+        });
+        // @ts-expect-error "overwriteDistro" is protected
+        jest.spyOn(du, 'overwriteDistro');
+
+        process.env[envName(ResolveConfigVariables.DISTRO)] = 'ubuntu-18.04';
+
+        expect((await du.getArchiveNameLinux()).includes('ubuntu1804')).toBeTruthy();
+
+        // @ts-expect-error "overwriteDistro" is protected
+        expect(du.overwriteDistro).toBeCalledTimes(1);
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe('translateArch()', () => {
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/resolveConfig.ts b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/resolveConfig.ts
index 0054d13bb..b23c4faf1 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/resolveConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-memory-server-core/src/util/resolveConfig.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export enum ResolveConfigVariables {
   USE_HTTP = 'USE_HTTP',
   SYSTEM_BINARY_VERSION_CHECK = 'SYSTEM_BINARY_VERSION_CHECK',
   USE_ARCHIVE_NAME_FOR_BINARY_NAME = 'USE_ARCHIVE_NAME_FOR_BINARY_NAME',
+  DISTRO = 'DISTRO',
 }
 
 /** The Prefix for Environmental values */