diff --git a/doc/Manual.md b/doc/Manual.md
index a16d74a00..7d431937e 100644
--- a/doc/Manual.md
+++ b/doc/Manual.md
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ Either specify them with multiple `--exclude`'s or one `--exclude-file`
 
 Patterns use [`filepath.Glob`](https://golang.org/pkg/path/filepath/#Glob) internally,
 see [`filepath.Match`](https://golang.org/pkg/path/filepath/#Match) for syntax.
-Additionally `**` exludes arbitrary subdirectories.
+Additionally `**` exludes arbitrary subdirectories.  
+Environment-variables in exclude-files are expanded with [`os.ExpandEnv`](https://golang.org/pkg/os/#ExpandEnv).
 
 # List all snapshots
 
diff --git a/src/cmds/restic/cmd_backup.go b/src/cmds/restic/cmd_backup.go
index 11275d00a..b32e7af59 100644
--- a/src/cmds/restic/cmd_backup.go
+++ b/src/cmds/restic/cmd_backup.go
@@ -6,15 +6,15 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
-	"time"
-
-	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh/terminal"
 	"restic"
 	"restic/backend"
 	"restic/debug"
 	"restic/filter"
 	"restic/repository"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh/terminal"
 )
 
 type CmdBackup struct {
@@ -313,6 +313,7 @@ func (cmd CmdBackup) Execute(args []string) error {
 		for scanner.Scan() {
 			line := scanner.Text()
 			if !strings.HasPrefix(line, "#") {
+				line = os.ExpandEnv(line)
 				cmd.Excludes = append(cmd.Excludes, line)
 			}
 		}