diff --git a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
--- a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@
         qCWarning(KWIN_DRM) << "Did not find a GPU";
         return;
     }
-    m_devNode = device->devNode();
+    m_devNode = qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("KWIN_DRM_DEVICE_NODE") ? qgetenv("KWIN_DRM_DEVICE_NODE") : QByteArray(device->devNode());
     int fd = LogindIntegration::self()->takeDevice(m_devNode.constData());
     if (fd < 0) {
         qCWarning(KWIN_DRM) << "failed to open drm device at" << m_devNode;