diff --git a/src/cli.rs b/src/cli.rs
index 57d48ab..7103324 100644
--- a/src/cli.rs
+++ b/src/cli.rs
@@ -68,6 +68,13 @@ pub struct Cli {
     pub port: u16,
 
     // ── global ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    /// Relay server URL to use instead of the bundled defaults, e.g.
+    /// `https://relay.example/`. Applies to both host and viewer. Falls back
+    /// to the `PIXELPASS_RELAY` environment variable. Use this to get off the
+    /// pre-release default relays or to point at a self-hosted relay.
+    #[arg(long, value_name = "URL")]
+    pub relay: Option<String>,
+
     /// Launch the graphical front-end (a window with Host/View controls)
     /// instead of the terminal menu. Requires a build with `--features gui`.
     #[arg(long)]
@@ -140,12 +147,16 @@ pub struct HostOpts {
     pub no_hwencode: bool,
     pub max_viewers: Option<u32>,
     pub interactive: bool,
+    /// Relay override (resolved from `--relay` / `PIXELPASS_RELAY`); None = defaults.
+    pub relay: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct ViewerOpts {
     pub port: u16,
     pub interactive: bool,
+    /// Relay override (resolved from `--relay` / `PIXELPASS_RELAY`); None = defaults.
+    pub relay: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl Cli {
@@ -163,10 +174,15 @@ impl Cli {
             no_hwencode: self.no_hwencode,
             max_viewers: self.max_viewers,
             interactive,
+            relay: crate::common::endpoint::relay_override(self.relay.as_deref()),
         }
     }
 
     pub fn into_viewer_opts(self, interactive: bool) -> ViewerOpts {
-        ViewerOpts { port: self.port, interactive }
+        ViewerOpts {
+            port: self.port,
+            interactive,
+            relay: crate::common::endpoint::relay_override(self.relay.as_deref()),
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/common/endpoint.rs b/src/common/endpoint.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b78ecee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/endpoint.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+//! Shared iroh endpoint construction for the host and viewer.
+//!
+//! Both sides bind an endpoint with the same ALPN; the only knob is the relay.
+
+use std::str::FromStr;
+
+use anyhow::{Context, Result};
+use iroh::endpoint::presets;
+use iroh::{Endpoint, RelayMap, RelayMode, RelayUrl};
+
+use super::alpn::ALPN;
+
+/// Environment variable consulted when `--relay` isn't passed. Lets the GUI's
+/// child processes and scripted runs inherit a relay choice without a flag.
+pub const RELAY_ENV: &str = "PIXELPASS_RELAY";
+
+/// Resolve the relay override: explicit `--relay` wins, else `PIXELPASS_RELAY`,
+/// else `None` (use the bundled defaults).
+pub fn relay_override(flag: Option<&str>) -> Option<String> {
+    flag.map(str::to_owned)
+        .or_else(|| std::env::var(RELAY_ENV).ok().filter(|s| !s.trim().is_empty()))
+}
+
+/// Bind the iroh endpoint with our ALPN.
+///
+/// With no `relay` override we use [`presets::N0`] — n0 DNS discovery, the
+/// library's default relays, and the chosen crypto provider. With an override
+/// we keep all of that but swap in a single custom relay via
+/// [`RelayMode::Custom`]; this is how a user gets off the rc's bundled
+/// (canary-grade) relays or points at a self-hosted one. Discovery is
+/// unchanged, so peers still resolve each other by endpoint id.
+pub async fn bind(relay: Option<&str>) -> Result<Endpoint> {
+    let mut builder = Endpoint::builder(presets::N0).alpns(vec![ALPN.to_vec()]);
+
+    if let Some(url) = relay {
+        let url = RelayUrl::from_str(url)
+            .with_context(|| format!("invalid relay URL {url:?} (expected e.g. https://relay.example/)"))?;
+        builder = builder.relay_mode(RelayMode::Custom(RelayMap::from(url)));
+    }
+
+    builder.bind().await.context("failed to bind the iroh endpoint")
+}
diff --git a/src/common/mod.rs b/src/common/mod.rs
index af1fd15..af5a575 100644
--- a/src/common/mod.rs
+++ b/src/common/mod.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ pub mod alpn;
 pub mod bandwidth;
 pub mod config;
 pub mod deps;
+pub mod endpoint;
 pub mod display;
 pub mod output;
 pub mod process;
diff --git a/src/host/mod.rs b/src/host/mod.rs
index 44f2eb4..0a26135 100644
--- a/src/host/mod.rs
+++ b/src/host/mod.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ mod wayland;
 mod x11;
 
 use anyhow::{Result, bail};
-use iroh::endpoint::{Connection, presets};
+use iroh::endpoint::Connection;
 use iroh::{Endpoint, EndpointAddr};
 use iroh_tickets::endpoint::EndpointTicket;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 
 use crate::cli::HostOpts;
 use crate::common::{
-    alpn::ALPN, bandwidth, config, config::BandwidthStatus, deps, display::DisplayServer, output,
+    bandwidth, config, config::BandwidthStatus, deps, display::DisplayServer, endpoint, output,
     signal, tunnel,
 };
 
@@ -74,10 +74,7 @@ pub async fn run(opts: HostOpts) -> Result<()> {
 
     let cancel = signal::install_ctrl_c();
 
-    let endpoint = Endpoint::builder(presets::N0)
-        .alpns(vec![ALPN.to_vec()])
-        .bind()
-        .await?;
+    let endpoint = endpoint::bind(opts.relay.as_deref()).await?;
 
     // Relay-only ticket: wait for the home relay to connect, then keep only
     // the endpoint id + relay URL and drop the direct IP candidates. The relay
diff --git a/src/host/quality.rs b/src/host/quality.rs
index d85bf3c..294c348 100644
--- a/src/host/quality.rs
+++ b/src/host/quality.rs
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ mod tests {
             no_hwencode: false,
             max_viewers,
             interactive: false,
+            relay: None,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/viewer/mod.rs b/src/viewer/mod.rs
index 2bc211d..f6fe7d8 100644
--- a/src/viewer/mod.rs
+++ b/src/viewer/mod.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 use anyhow::{Context, Result, bail};
-use iroh::Endpoint;
-use iroh::endpoint::presets;
 use iroh_tickets::endpoint::EndpointTicket;
 use std::time::Duration;
 use tokio::net::TcpListener;
 
 use crate::cli::ViewerOpts;
-use crate::common::{alpn::ALPN, output, signal};
+use crate::common::{alpn::ALPN, endpoint, output, signal};
 
 /// Cap on the initial QUIC connect. `endpoint.connect()` has no built-in
 /// deadline, so an offline host / stale code / unreachable relay otherwise
@@ -17,10 +15,7 @@ const CONNECT_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(15);
 pub async fn run(ticket: EndpointTicket, opts: ViewerOpts) -> Result<()> {
     let cancel = signal::install_ctrl_c();
 
-    let endpoint = Endpoint::builder(presets::N0)
-        .alpns(vec![ALPN.to_vec()])
-        .bind()
-        .await?;
+    let endpoint = endpoint::bind(opts.relay.as_deref()).await?;
 
     let addr = ticket.endpoint_addr().clone();
     tracing::info!(remote = %addr.id, "connecting to host");