--- utils.py.dist	2009-11-03 17:01:13.134963685 +1100
+++ utils.py	2009-11-03 17:13:35.293419532 +1100
@@ -112,9 +112,16 @@
   """
   SYNAPTIC_CONF_FILE = "/root/.synaptic/synaptic.conf"
   proxy = None
-  # generic apt config wins
+
+  # Load generic apt config file
   apt_pkg.InitConfig()
-  if apt_pkg.Config.Find("Acquire::http::Proxy") != '':
+
+  # Try to get the http_proxy env variable first (always wins)
+  envProxy = os.getenv("http_proxy")
+  if envProxy != '':
+    proxy = envProxy
+  # then try apt proxy config
+  elif apt_pkg.Config.Find("Acquire::http::Proxy") != '':
     proxy = apt_pkg.Config.Find("Acquire::http::Proxy")
   # then synaptic
   elif os.path.exists(SYNAPTIC_CONF_FILE):