diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3e03290d8f..9ddfa3dfe7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1005,6 +1005,7 @@ LIB_OBJS += trace2/tr2_cfg.o
 LIB_OBJS += trace2/tr2_cmd_name.o
 LIB_OBJS += trace2/tr2_dst.o
 LIB_OBJS += trace2/tr2_sid.o
+LIB_OBJS += trace2/tr2_sysenv.o
 LIB_OBJS += trace2/tr2_tbuf.o
 LIB_OBJS += trace2/tr2_tgt_event.o
 LIB_OBJS += trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.o
diff --git a/t/t0210-trace2-normal.sh b/t/t0210-trace2-normal.sh
index 03a0aedb1d..4e2d4c7997 100755
--- a/t/t0210-trace2-normal.sh
+++ b/t/t0210-trace2-normal.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+# Turn off any inherited trace2 settings for this test.
+unset GIT_TR2 GIT_TR2_PERF GIT_TR2_EVENT
+unset GIT_TR2_BRIEF
+unset GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS
+
 test_description='test trace2 facility (normal target)'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
@@ -15,11 +20,6 @@ PATH="$TTDIR:$PATH" && export PATH
 # Warning: So you may see extra lines in artifact files when
 # Warning: interactively debugging.
 
-# Turn off any inherited trace2 settings for this test.
-unset GIT_TR2 GIT_TR2_PERF GIT_TR2_EVENT
-unset GIT_TR2_BRIEF
-unset GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS
-
 V=$(git version | sed -e 's/^git version //') && export V
 
 # There are multiple trace2 targets: normal, perf, and event.
@@ -132,4 +132,43 @@ test_expect_success 'normal stream, error event' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+unset GIT_TR2_BRIEF
+
+# Now test without environment variables and get all Trace2 settings
+# from the global config.
+
+test_expect_success 'using global config, normal stream, return code 0' '
+	test_when_finished "rm trace.normal actual expect" &&
+	test_config_global trace2.normalBrief 1 &&
+	test_config_global trace2.normalTarget "$(pwd)/trace.normal" &&
+	test-tool trace2 001return 0 &&
+	perl "$TEST_DIRECTORY/t0210/scrub_normal.perl" <trace.normal >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		version $V
+		start _EXE_ trace2 001return 0
+		cmd_name trace2 (trace2)
+		exit elapsed:_TIME_ code:0
+		atexit elapsed:_TIME_ code:0
+	EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'using global config with include' '
+	test_when_finished "rm trace.normal actual expect real.gitconfig" &&
+	test_config_global trace2.normalBrief 1 &&
+	test_config_global trace2.normalTarget "$(pwd)/trace.normal" &&
+	mv "$(pwd)/.gitconfig" "$(pwd)/real.gitconfig" &&
+	test_config_global include.path "$(pwd)/real.gitconfig" &&
+	test-tool trace2 001return 0 &&
+	perl "$TEST_DIRECTORY/t0210/scrub_normal.perl" <trace.normal >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		version $V
+		start _EXE_ trace2 001return 0
+		cmd_name trace2 (trace2)
+		exit elapsed:_TIME_ code:0
+		atexit elapsed:_TIME_ code:0
+	EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t0211-trace2-perf.sh b/t/t0211-trace2-perf.sh
index c9694b29f7..2a90e56db3 100755
--- a/t/t0211-trace2-perf.sh
+++ b/t/t0211-trace2-perf.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+# Turn off any inherited trace2 settings for this test.
+unset GIT_TR2 GIT_TR2_PERF GIT_TR2_EVENT
+unset GIT_TR2_PERF_BRIEF
+unset GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS
+
 test_description='test trace2 facility (perf target)'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
@@ -15,11 +20,6 @@ PATH="$TTDIR:$PATH" && export PATH
 # Warning: So you may see extra lines in artifact files when
 # Warning: interactively debugging.
 
-# Turn off any inherited trace2 settings for this test.
-unset GIT_TR2 GIT_TR2_PERF GIT_TR2_EVENT
-unset GIT_TR2_PERF_BRIEF
-unset GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS
-
 V=$(git version | sed -e 's/^git version //') && export V
 
 # There are multiple trace2 targets: normal, perf, and event.
@@ -150,4 +150,25 @@ test_expect_success 'perf stream, child processes' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+unset GIT_TR2_PERF_BRIEF
+
+# Now test without environment variables and get all Trace2 settings
+# from the global config.
+
+test_expect_success 'using global config, perf stream, return code 0' '
+	test_when_finished "rm trace.perf actual expect" &&
+	test_config_global trace2.perfBrief 1 &&
+	test_config_global trace2.perfTarget "$(pwd)/trace.perf" &&
+	test-tool trace2 001return 0 &&
+	perl "$TEST_DIRECTORY/t0211/scrub_perf.perl" <trace.perf >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+		d0|main|version|||||$V
+		d0|main|start||_T_ABS_|||_EXE_ trace2 001return 0
+		d0|main|cmd_name|||||trace2 (trace2)
+		d0|main|exit||_T_ABS_|||code:0
+		d0|main|atexit||_T_ABS_|||code:0
+	EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t0212-trace2-event.sh b/t/t0212-trace2-event.sh
index 028b6c5671..a3943561c3 100755
--- a/t/t0212-trace2-event.sh
+++ b/t/t0212-trace2-event.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+# Turn off any inherited trace2 settings for this test.
+unset GIT_TR2 GIT_TR2_PERF GIT_TR2_EVENT
+unset GIT_TR2_BARE
+unset GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS
+
 test_description='test trace2 facility'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
@@ -17,11 +22,6 @@ PATH="$TTDIR:$PATH" && export PATH
 # Warning: So you may see extra lines in artifact files when
 # Warning: interactively debugging.
 
-# Turn off any inherited trace2 settings for this test.
-unset GIT_TR2 GIT_TR2_PERF GIT_TR2_EVENT
-unset GIT_TR2_BARE
-unset GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS
-
 V=$(git version | sed -e 's/^git version //') && export V
 
 # There are multiple trace2 targets: normal, perf, and event.
@@ -233,4 +233,36 @@ test_expect_success JSON_PP 'basic trace2_data' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+# Now test without environment variables and get all Trace2 settings
+# from the global config.
+
+test_expect_success JSON_PP 'using global config, event stream, error event' '
+	test_when_finished "rm trace.event actual expect" &&
+	test_config_global trace2.eventTarget "$(pwd)/trace.event" &&
+	test-tool trace2 003error "hello world" "this is a test" &&
+	perl "$TEST_DIRECTORY/t0212/parse_events.perl" <trace.event >actual &&
+	sed -e "s/^|//" >expect <<-EOF &&
+	|VAR1 = {
+	|  "_SID0_":{
+	|    "argv":[
+	|      "_EXE_",
+	|      "trace2",
+	|      "003error",
+	|      "hello world",
+	|      "this is a test"
+	|    ],
+	|    "errors":[
+	|      "%s",
+	|      "%s"
+	|    ],
+	|    "exit_code":0,
+	|    "hierarchy":"trace2",
+	|    "name":"trace2",
+	|    "version":"$V"
+	|  }
+	|};
+	EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/trace2.c b/trace2.c
index 1c180062dd..490b3f071e 100644
--- a/trace2.c
+++ b/trace2.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "trace2/tr2_cmd_name.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_sid.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tgt.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tls.h"
 
@@ -120,6 +121,7 @@ static void tr2main_atexit_handler(void)
 	tr2_sid_release();
 	tr2_cmd_name_release();
 	tr2_cfg_free_patterns();
+	tr2_sysenv_release();
 
 	trace2_enabled = 0;
 }
@@ -155,6 +157,8 @@ void trace2_initialize_fl(const char *file, int line)
 	if (trace2_enabled)
 		return;
 
+	tr2_sysenv_load();
+
 	if (!tr2_tgt_want_builtins())
 		return;
 	trace2_enabled = 1;
diff --git a/trace2.h b/trace2.h
index 8f89e70c44..894bfca7e0 100644
--- a/trace2.h
+++ b/trace2.h
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ void trace2_initialize_clock(void);
 
 /*
  * Initialize TRACE2 tracing facility if any of the builtin TRACE2
- * targets are enabled in the environment.  Emits a 'version' event.
+ * targets are enabled in the system config or the environment.
+ * Emits a 'version' event.
  *
  * Cleanup/Termination is handled automatically by a registered
  * atexit() routine.
@@ -125,10 +126,11 @@ void trace2_cmd_alias_fl(const char *file, int line, const char *alias,
  * Emit one or more 'def_param' events for "interesting" configuration
  * settings.
  *
- * The environment variable "GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS" can be set to a
- * list of patterns considered important.  For example:
- *
- *    GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS="core.*,remote.*.url"
+ * Use the TR2_SYSENV_CFG_PARAM setting to register a comma-separated
+ * list of patterns configured important.  For example:
+ *     git config --system trace2.configParams 'core.*,remote.*.url'
+ * or:
+ *     GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS=core.*,remote.*.url"
  *
  * Note: this routine does a read-only iteration on the config data
  * (using read_early_config()), so it must not be called until enough
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_cfg.c b/trace2/tr2_cfg.c
index b329921ac5..caa7f06948 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_cfg.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_cfg.c
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "config.h"
-#include "tr2_cfg.h"
-
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_CFG_PARAM "GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS"
+#include "trace2/tr2_cfg.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 
 static struct strbuf **tr2_cfg_patterns;
 static int tr2_cfg_count_patterns;
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ static int tr2_cfg_load_patterns(void)
 		return tr2_cfg_count_patterns;
 	tr2_cfg_loaded = 1;
 
-	envvar = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_CFG_PARAM);
+	envvar = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_CFG_PARAM);
 	if (!envvar || !*envvar)
 		return tr2_cfg_count_patterns;
 
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_dst.c b/trace2/tr2_dst.c
index fd490a43ad..575cd69aa9 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_dst.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_dst.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 
 /*
  * If a Trace2 target cannot be opened for writing, we should issue a
@@ -7,17 +8,13 @@
  * or socket and beyond the user's control -- especially since every
  * git command (and sub-command) will print the message.  So we silently
  * eat these warnings and just discard the trace data.
- *
- * Enable the following environment variable to see these warnings.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_DST_DEBUG "GIT_TR2_DST_DEBUG"
-
 static int tr2_dst_want_warning(void)
 {
 	static int tr2env_dst_debug = -1;
 
 	if (tr2env_dst_debug == -1) {
-		const char *env_value = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_DST_DEBUG);
+		const char *env_value = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_DST_DEBUG);
 		if (!env_value || !*env_value)
 			tr2env_dst_debug = 0;
 		else
@@ -42,7 +39,9 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_path(struct tr2_dst *dst, const char *tgt_value)
 	if (fd == -1) {
 		if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 			warning("trace2: could not open '%s' for '%s' tracing: %s",
-				tgt_value, dst->env_var_name, strerror(errno));
+				tgt_value,
+				tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var),
+				strerror(errno));
 
 		tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 		return 0;
@@ -116,7 +115,7 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_unix_domain_socket(struct tr2_dst *dst,
 	if (!path || !*path) {
 		if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 			warning("trace2: invalid AF_UNIX value '%s' for '%s' tracing",
-				tgt_value, dst->env_var_name);
+				tgt_value, tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var));
 
 		tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 		return 0;
@@ -126,7 +125,7 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_unix_domain_socket(struct tr2_dst *dst,
 	    strlen(path) >= sizeof(((struct sockaddr_un *)0)->sun_path)) {
 		if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 			warning("trace2: invalid AF_UNIX path '%s' for '%s' tracing",
-				path, dst->env_var_name);
+				path, tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var));
 
 		tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 		return 0;
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_unix_domain_socket(struct tr2_dst *dst,
 error:
 	if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 		warning("trace2: could not connect to socket '%s' for '%s' tracing: %s",
-			path, dst->env_var_name, strerror(e));
+			path, tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var), strerror(e));
 
 	tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 	return 0;
@@ -168,7 +167,7 @@ static void tr2_dst_malformed_warning(struct tr2_dst *dst,
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	strbuf_addf(&buf, "trace2: unknown value for '%s': '%s'",
-		    dst->env_var_name, tgt_value);
+		    tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var), tgt_value);
 	warning("%s", buf.buf);
 
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
@@ -184,7 +183,7 @@ int tr2_dst_get_trace_fd(struct tr2_dst *dst)
 
 	dst->initialized = 1;
 
-	tgt_value = getenv(dst->env_var_name);
+	tgt_value = tr2_sysenv_get(dst->sysenv_var);
 
 	if (!tgt_value || !strcmp(tgt_value, "") || !strcmp(tgt_value, "0") ||
 	    !strcasecmp(tgt_value, "false")) {
@@ -246,7 +245,8 @@ void tr2_dst_write_line(struct tr2_dst *dst, struct strbuf *buf_line)
 		return;
 
 	if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
-		warning("unable to write trace to '%s': %s", dst->env_var_name,
+		warning("unable to write trace to '%s': %s",
+			tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var),
 			strerror(errno));
 	tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 }
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_dst.h b/trace2/tr2_dst.h
index 9a64f05b02..3adf3bac13 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_dst.h
+++ b/trace2/tr2_dst.h
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 #define TR2_DST_H
 
 struct strbuf;
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 
 struct tr2_dst {
-	const char *const env_var_name;
+	enum tr2_sysenv_variable sysenv_var;
 	int fd;
 	unsigned int initialized : 1;
 	unsigned int need_close : 1;
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_sysenv.c b/trace2/tr2_sysenv.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9025b86303
--- /dev/null
+++ b/trace2/tr2_sysenv.c
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+#include "cache.h"
+#include "config.h"
+#include "dir.h"
+#include "tr2_sysenv.h"
+
+/*
+ * Each entry represents a trace2 setting.
+ * See Documentation/technical/api-trace2.txt
+ */
+struct tr2_sysenv_entry {
+	const char *env_var_name;
+	const char *git_config_name;
+
+	char *value;
+	unsigned int getenv_called : 1;
+};
+
+/*
+ * This table must match "enum tr2_sysenv_variable" in tr2_sysenv.h.
+ *
+ * The strings in this table are constant and must match the published
+ * config and environment variable names as described in the documentation.
+ *
+ * We do not define entries for the GIT_TR2_PARENT_* environment
+ * variables because they are transient and used to pass information
+ * from parent to child git processes, rather than settings.
+ */
+/* clang-format off */
+static struct tr2_sysenv_entry tr2_sysenv_settings[] = {
+	[TR2_SYSENV_CFG_PARAM]     = { "GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS",
+				       "trace2.configparams" },
+
+	[TR2_SYSENV_DST_DEBUG]     = { "GIT_TR2_DST_DEBUG",
+				       "trace2.destinationdebug" },
+
+	[TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL]        = { "GIT_TR2",
+				       "trace2.normaltarget" },
+	[TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL_BRIEF]  = { "GIT_TR2_BRIEF",
+				       "trace2.normalbrief" },
+
+	[TR2_SYSENV_EVENT]         = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT",
+				       "trace2.eventtarget" },
+	[TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_BRIEF]   = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT_BRIEF",
+				       "trace2.eventbrief" },
+	[TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_NESTING] = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT_NESTING",
+				       "trace2.eventnesting" },
+
+	[TR2_SYSENV_PERF]          = { "GIT_TR2_PERF",
+				       "trace2.perftarget" },
+	[TR2_SYSENV_PERF_BRIEF]    = { "GIT_TR2_PERF_BRIEF",
+				       "trace2.perfbrief" },
+};
+/* clang-format on */
+
+static int tr2_sysenv_cb(const char *key, const char *value, void *d)
+{
+	int k;
+
+	if (!starts_with(key, "trace2."))
+		return 0;
+
+	for (k = 0; k < ARRAY_SIZE(tr2_sysenv_settings); k++) {
+		if (!strcmp(key, tr2_sysenv_settings[k].git_config_name)) {
+			free(tr2_sysenv_settings[k].value);
+			tr2_sysenv_settings[k].value = xstrdup(value);
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Load Trace2 settings from the system config (usually "/etc/gitconfig"
+ * unless we were built with a runtime-prefix).  These are intended to
+ * define the default values for Trace2 as requested by the administrator.
+ *
+ * Then override with the Trace2 settings from the global config.
+ */
+void tr2_sysenv_load(void)
+{
+	if (ARRAY_SIZE(tr2_sysenv_settings) != TR2_SYSENV_MUST_BE_LAST)
+		BUG("tr2_sysenv_settings size is wrong");
+
+	read_very_early_config(tr2_sysenv_cb, NULL);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Return the value for the requested Trace2 setting from these sources:
+ * the system config, the global config, and the environment.
+ */
+const char *tr2_sysenv_get(enum tr2_sysenv_variable var)
+{
+	if (var >= TR2_SYSENV_MUST_BE_LAST)
+		BUG("tr2_sysenv_get invalid var '%d'", var);
+
+	if (!tr2_sysenv_settings[var].getenv_called) {
+		const char *v = getenv(tr2_sysenv_settings[var].env_var_name);
+		if (v && *v) {
+			free(tr2_sysenv_settings[var].value);
+			tr2_sysenv_settings[var].value = xstrdup(v);
+		}
+		tr2_sysenv_settings[var].getenv_called = 1;
+	}
+
+	return tr2_sysenv_settings[var].value;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Return a friendly name for this setting that is suitable for printing
+ * in an error messages.
+ */
+const char *tr2_sysenv_display_name(enum tr2_sysenv_variable var)
+{
+	if (var >= TR2_SYSENV_MUST_BE_LAST)
+		BUG("tr2_sysenv_get invalid var '%d'", var);
+
+	return tr2_sysenv_settings[var].env_var_name;
+}
+
+void tr2_sysenv_release(void)
+{
+	int k;
+
+	for (k = 0; k < ARRAY_SIZE(tr2_sysenv_settings); k++)
+		free(tr2_sysenv_settings[k].value);
+}
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_sysenv.h b/trace2/tr2_sysenv.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..369b20bd87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/trace2/tr2_sysenv.h
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#ifndef TR2_SYSENV_H
+#define TR2_SYSENV_H
+
+/*
+ * The Trace2 settings that can be loaded from /etc/gitconfig
+ * and/or user environment variables.
+ *
+ * Note that this set does not contain any of the transient
+ * environment variables used to pass information from parent
+ * to child git processes, such "GIT_TR2_PARENT_SID".
+ */
+enum tr2_sysenv_variable {
+	TR2_SYSENV_CFG_PARAM = 0,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_DST_DEBUG,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL,
+	TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL_BRIEF,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_EVENT,
+	TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_BRIEF,
+	TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_NESTING,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_PERF,
+	TR2_SYSENV_PERF_BRIEF,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_MUST_BE_LAST
+};
+
+void tr2_sysenv_load(void);
+
+const char *tr2_sysenv_get(enum tr2_sysenv_variable);
+const char *tr2_sysenv_display_name(enum tr2_sysenv_variable var);
+void tr2_sysenv_release(void);
+
+#endif /* TR2_SYSENV_H */
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tgt_event.c b/trace2/tr2_tgt_event.c
index 89a4d3ae9a..48d9193b2c 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tgt_event.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tgt_event.c
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tbuf.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_sid.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tgt.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tls.h"
 
-static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_event = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT", 0, 0, 0 };
+static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_event = { TR2_SYSENV_EVENT, 0, 0, 0 };
 
 /*
  * The version number of the JSON data generated by the EVENT target
@@ -28,37 +29,36 @@ static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_event = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT", 0, 0, 0 };
  * are primarily intended for the performance target during debugging.
  *
  * Some of the outer-most messages, however, may be of interest to the
- * event target.  Set this environment variable to a larger integer for
- * more detail in the event target.
+ * event target.  Use the TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_NESTING setting to increase
+ * region details in the event target.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_EVENT_NESTING "GIT_TR2_EVENT_NESTING"
-static int tr2env_event_nesting_wanted = 2;
+static int tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels = 2;
 
 /*
- * Set this environment variable to true to omit the <time>, <file>, and
+ * Use the TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_BRIEF to omit the <time>, <file>, and
  * <line> fields from most events.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_EVENT_BRIEF "GIT_TR2_EVENT_BRIEF"
-static int tr2env_event_brief;
+static int tr2env_event_be_brief;
 
 static int fn_init(void)
 {
 	int want = tr2_dst_trace_want(&tr2dst_event);
-	int want_nesting;
+	int max_nesting;
 	int want_brief;
-	char *nesting;
-	char *brief;
+	const char *nesting;
+	const char *brief;
 
 	if (!want)
 		return want;
 
-	nesting = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_EVENT_NESTING);
-	if (nesting && ((want_nesting = atoi(nesting)) > 0))
-		tr2env_event_nesting_wanted = want_nesting;
+	nesting = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_NESTING);
+	if (nesting && *nesting && ((max_nesting = atoi(nesting)) > 0))
+		tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels = max_nesting;
 
-	brief = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_EVENT_BRIEF);
-	if (brief && ((want_brief = atoi(brief)) > 0))
-		tr2env_event_brief = want_brief;
+	brief = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_BRIEF);
+	if (brief && *brief &&
+	    ((want_brief = git_parse_maybe_bool(brief)) != -1))
+		tr2env_event_be_brief = want_brief;
 
 	return want;
 }
@@ -92,13 +92,13 @@ static void event_fmt_prepare(const char *event_name, const char *file,
 	/*
 	 * In brief mode, only emit <time> on these 2 event types.
 	 */
-	if (!tr2env_event_brief || !strcmp(event_name, "version") ||
+	if (!tr2env_event_be_brief || !strcmp(event_name, "version") ||
 	    !strcmp(event_name, "atexit")) {
 		tr2_tbuf_utc_time(&tb_now);
 		jw_object_string(jw, "time", tb_now.buf);
 	}
 
-	if (!tr2env_event_brief && file && *file) {
+	if (!tr2env_event_be_brief && file && *file) {
 		jw_object_string(jw, "file", file);
 		jw_object_intmax(jw, "line", line);
 	}
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ static void fn_region_enter_printf_va_fl(const char *file, int line,
 {
 	const char *event_name = "region_enter";
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = tr2tls_get_self();
-	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_nesting_wanted) {
+	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels) {
 		struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
 
 		jw_object_begin(&jw, 0);
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ static void fn_region_leave_printf_va_fl(
 {
 	const char *event_name = "region_leave";
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = tr2tls_get_self();
-	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_nesting_wanted) {
+	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels) {
 		struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
 		double t_rel = (double)us_elapsed_region / 1000000.0;
 
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ static void fn_data_fl(const char *file, int line, uint64_t us_elapsed_absolute,
 {
 	const char *event_name = "data";
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = tr2tls_get_self();
-	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_nesting_wanted) {
+	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels) {
 		struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
 		double t_abs = (double)us_elapsed_absolute / 1000000.0;
 		double t_rel = (double)us_elapsed_region / 1000000.0;
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ static void fn_data_json_fl(const char *file, int line,
 {
 	const char *event_name = "data_json";
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = tr2tls_get_self();
-	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_nesting_wanted) {
+	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels) {
 		struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
 		double t_abs = (double)us_elapsed_absolute / 1000000.0;
 		double t_rel = (double)us_elapsed_region / 1000000.0;
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.c b/trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.c
index 57f3e18f5b..1ce6f97863 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.c
@@ -4,20 +4,20 @@
 #include "quote.h"
 #include "version.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tbuf.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tgt.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tls.h"
 
-static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_normal = { "GIT_TR2", 0, 0, 0 };
+static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_normal = { TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL, 0, 0, 0 };
 
 /*
- * Set this environment variable to true to omit the "<time> <file>:<line>"
+ * Use the TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL_BRIEF setting to omit the "<time> <file>:<line>"
  * fields from each line written to the builtin normal target.
  *
  * Unit tests may want to use this to help with testing.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_NORMAL_BRIEF "GIT_TR2_BRIEF"
-static int tr2env_normal_brief;
+static int tr2env_normal_be_brief;
 
 #define TR2FMT_NORMAL_FL_WIDTH (50)
 
@@ -25,15 +25,15 @@ static int fn_init(void)
 {
 	int want = tr2_dst_trace_want(&tr2dst_normal);
 	int want_brief;
-	char *brief;
+	const char *brief;
 
 	if (!want)
 		return want;
 
-	brief = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_NORMAL_BRIEF);
+	brief = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL_BRIEF);
 	if (brief && *brief &&
 	    ((want_brief = git_parse_maybe_bool(brief)) != -1))
-		tr2env_normal_brief = want_brief;
+		tr2env_normal_be_brief = want_brief;
 
 	return want;
 }
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static void normal_fmt_prepare(const char *file, int line, struct strbuf *buf)
 {
 	strbuf_setlen(buf, 0);
 
-	if (!tr2env_normal_brief) {
+	if (!tr2env_normal_be_brief) {
 		struct tr2_tbuf tb_now;
 
 		tr2_tbuf_local_time(&tb_now);
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tgt_perf.c b/trace2/tr2_tgt_perf.c
index 9c3b4d8a0f..328d2234bd 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tgt_perf.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tgt_perf.c
@@ -6,20 +6,20 @@
 #include "json-writer.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_sid.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tbuf.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tgt.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tls.h"
 
-static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_perf = { "GIT_TR2_PERF", 0, 0, 0 };
+static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_perf = { TR2_SYSENV_PERF, 0, 0, 0 };
 
 /*
- * Set this environment variable to true to omit the "<time> <file>:<line>"
+ * Use TR2_SYSENV_PERF_BRIEF to omit the "<time> <file>:<line>"
  * fields from each line written to the builtin performance target.
  *
  * Unit tests may want to use this to help with testing.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_PERF_BRIEF "GIT_TR2_PERF_BRIEF"
-static int tr2env_perf_brief;
+static int tr2env_perf_be_brief;
 
 #define TR2FMT_PERF_FL_WIDTH (50)
 #define TR2FMT_PERF_MAX_EVENT_NAME (12)
@@ -36,17 +36,17 @@ static int fn_init(void)
 {
 	int want = tr2_dst_trace_want(&tr2dst_perf);
 	int want_brief;
-	char *brief;
+	const char *brief;
 
 	if (!want)
 		return want;
 
 	strbuf_addchars(&dots, '.', TR2_DOTS_BUFFER_SIZE);
 
-	brief = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_PERF_BRIEF);
+	brief = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_PERF_BRIEF);
 	if (brief && *brief &&
 	    ((want_brief = git_parse_maybe_bool(brief)) != -1))
-		tr2env_perf_brief = want_brief;
+		tr2env_perf_be_brief = want_brief;
 
 	return want;
 }
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static void perf_fmt_prepare(const char *event_name,
 
 	strbuf_setlen(buf, 0);
 
-	if (!tr2env_perf_brief) {
+	if (!tr2env_perf_be_brief) {
 		struct tr2_tbuf tb_now;
 
 		tr2_tbuf_local_time(&tb_now);
