1diff --git a/rpy/rinterface/__init__.py b/rpy/rinterface/__init__.py
2index 9362e57..1af258e 100644
3--- a/rpy/rinterface/__init__.py
4+++ b/rpy/rinterface/__init__.py
5@@ -43,6 +43,15 @@ if not R_HOME:
6 if not os.environ.get("R_HOME"):
7 os.environ['R_HOME'] = R_HOME
8
9+# path to libraries
10+existing = os.environ.get('R_LIBS_SITE')
11+if existing is not None:
12+ prefix = existing + ':'
13+else:
14+ prefix = ''
15+additional = '@NIX_R_LIBS_SITE@'
16+os.environ['R_LIBS_SITE'] = prefix + additional
17+
18 if sys.platform == 'win32':
19 _load_r_dll(R_HOME)
20