diff --git a/openpype/lib/local_settings.py b/openpype/lib/local_settings.py
index 66dad279de..af8c3cdbc8 100644
--- a/openpype/lib/local_settings.py
+++ b/openpype/lib/local_settings.py
@@ -522,6 +522,11 @@ def get_local_site_id():
 
     Identifier is created if does not exists yet.
     """
+    # override local id from environment
+    # used for background syncing
+    if os.environ.get("SITE_SYNC_LOCAL_ID"):
+        return os.environ["SITE_SYNC_LOCAL_ID"]
+
     registry = OpenPypeSettingsRegistry()
     try:
         return registry.get_item("localId")