diff --git a/md.sh b/md.sh
index 1c9b326..4ef315c 100755
--- a/md.sh
+++ b/md.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #! /bin/bash
 set -e
 
-GREPPRG=${GREPPRG:-grep}
+# Used to set the base directory to query. Defaults to current directory
+MARKDONE_BASE_DIR=${MARKDONE_BASE_DIR:-.}
 
 function list_notes {
     echo "Notes"
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ function list_notes {
     if [ "$query" == "" ]; then
         query="."
     fi
-    grep -l "$query" -R .
+    grep -l "$query" -R "$MARKDONE_BASE_DIR"
 }
 
 function list_tasks {
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ function list_tasks {
             ;;
     esac
     query=".*$query"
-    grep "^[[:blank:]]*[^[:blank:]-][[:blank:]]*[*]\?[[:blank:]]*\[[$inner_task]\?\]$query" -R . -h
+    grep "^[[:blank:]]*[^[:blank:]-][[:blank:]]*[*]\?[[:blank:]]*\[[$inner_task]\?\]$query" -R "$MARKDONE_BASE_DIR" -h
 }
 
 function echo_help {