diff --git a/CONTRIBUTORS.md b/CONTRIBUTORS.md
index 07160217..5fdc3150 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTORS.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTORS.md
@@ -20,3 +20,4 @@
 * [naquiroz](https://github.com/naquiroz)
 * [john-sandall](https://github.com/john-sandall)
 * [dineshtrivedi](https://github.com/dineshtrivedi)
+* [TheAfroOfDoom](https://github.com/TheAfroOfDoom)
diff --git a/pylint_django/checkers/foreign_key_strings.py b/pylint_django/checkers/foreign_key_strings.py
index c145301e..477c4958 100644
--- a/pylint_django/checkers/foreign_key_strings.py
+++ b/pylint_django/checkers/foreign_key_strings.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
+import os
+
 import astroid
+from configurations import importer
 from pylint.checkers import BaseChecker
 from pylint.checkers.utils import check_messages
 from pylint.interfaces import IAstroidChecker
@@ -41,6 +44,15 @@ class ForeignKeyStringsChecker(BaseChecker):
                 "help": "A module containing Django settings to be used while linting.",
             },
         ),
+        (
+            "django-configuration",
+            {
+                "default": None,
+                "type": "string",
+                "metavar": "<django configuration>",
+                "help": "The configuration for Django to use while linting.",
+            },
+        ),
     )
 
     msgs = {
@@ -89,6 +101,25 @@ def open(self):
         try:
             import django  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
 
+            if os.environ.get("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE") is None or os.environ.get("DJANGO_CONFIGURATION") is None:
+                try:
+                    os.environ.setdefault(
+                        "DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE",
+                        os.environ.get("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE") or self.config.django_settings_module,
+                    )
+                    os.environ.setdefault(
+                        "DJANGO_CONFIGURATION",
+                        os.environ.get("DJANGO_CONFIGURATION") or self.config.django_configuration,
+                    )
+                except TypeError as ex:
+                    missing_module = ""
+                    if self.config.django_settings_module is None:
+                        missing_module = "DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE"
+                    else:
+                        missing_module = "DJANGO_CONFIGURATION"
+                    raise RuntimeError(f"{missing_module} required to initialize Django project settings") from ex
+                importer.install()
+
             django.setup()
             from django.apps import (  # noqa pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel,unused-import
                 apps,