diff --git a/stdeb/command/common.py b/stdeb/command/common.py
index cb6e7109..22f83929 100644
--- a/stdeb/command/common.py
+++ b/stdeb/command/common.py
@@ -94,7 +94,11 @@ def get_debinfo(self):
 
         if 1:
             # set default maintainer
-            if (self.distribution.get_maintainer() != 'UNKNOWN' and
+            if os.environ.get('DEBEMAIL'):
+                guess_maintainer = "%s <%s>" % (os.environ.get('DEBFULLNAME',
+                                                               os.environ['DEBEMAIL']),
+                                                os.environ['DEBEMAIL'])
+            elif (self.distribution.get_maintainer() != 'UNKNOWN' and
                 self.distribution.get_maintainer_email() != 'UNKNOWN'):
                 guess_maintainer = "%s <%s>"%(
                     self.distribution.get_maintainer(),