diff --git a/syndicate-examples/chat.rkt b/syndicate-examples/chat.rkt
index 55cb69a..448d49e 100644
--- a/syndicate-examples/chat.rkt
+++ b/syndicate-examples/chat.rkt
@@ -42,5 +42,5 @@
     (run-tcp-client-relay
      ds
      #:hostname "localhost"
-     #:port 9001
+     #:port (string->number (or (getenv "CHAT_PORT") "9001"))
      #:import (lambda (v) (gatekeeper-resolve (embedded-value v) ref on-connected)))))