diff --git a/lib/ProgramOptions/Translator.cpp b/lib/ProgramOptions/Translator.cpp
index f3129ed54a..73e9800e72 100644
--- a/lib/ProgramOptions/Translator.cpp
+++ b/lib/ProgramOptions/Translator.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "Translator.h"
 
 #include "Basics/StringUtils.h"
+#include "Basics/Thread.h"
 #include "Basics/files.h"
 #include "Basics/tri-strings.h"
 
@@ -102,8 +103,11 @@ std::string arangodb::options::EnvironmentTranslator(std::string const& value,
                   vv.pop_back();
                 }
               }
-            }
+            } else 
 #endif
+            if (TRI_EqualString(k.c_str(), "PID")) {
+              vv = std::to_string(Thread::currentProcessId());
+            }
           } else {
             vv = v;
           }