diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f895332..f8aeab2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 Contact: [ghantoos@ghantoos.org](mailto:ghantoos@ghantoos.org)  
 [https://github.com/ghantoos/lshell](https://github.com/ghantoos/lshell)
 
+### v0.10.2 24/10/2024
+- Make env_path have precedence over the OS path ($env_path:$PATH)
+- Test auto-release via Pypi
+
 ### v0.10.1 24/10/2024
 - Add the ability to write and execute a lshell script (`#!/usr/bin/lshell`)
 - Added Pypi package
diff --git a/etc/lshell.conf b/etc/lshell.conf
index ee687c2..b443cd1 100644
--- a/etc/lshell.conf
+++ b/etc/lshell.conf
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ aliases         : {'ll':'ls -l'}
 #home_path       : '/home/bla/'
 
 ##  update the environment variable $PATH of the user
-#env_path        : ':/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin'
+#env_path        : '/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin'
 
 ##  a list of path; all executable files inside these path will be allowed 
 #allowed_cmd_path: ['/home/bla/bin','/home/bla/stuff/libexec']
diff --git a/lshell/checkconfig.py b/lshell/checkconfig.py
index 53dc745..af38935 100644
--- a/lshell/checkconfig.py
+++ b/lshell/checkconfig.py
@@ -601,7 +601,17 @@ def get_config_user(self):
                 f"{self.conf['home_path']}/{self.conf['history_file']}"
             )
 
-        os.environ["PATH"] = os.environ["PATH"] + self.conf["env_path"]
+        if self.conf["env_path"]:
+            new_path = f"{self.conf['env_path']}:{os.environ['PATH']}"
+
+            # Check if the new path is valid
+            if all(
+                c in string.ascii_letters + string.digits + "/:-_." for c in new_path
+            ) and not new_path.startswith(":"):
+                os.environ["PATH"] = new_path
+            else:
+                print(f"CONF: env_path must be a valid $PATH: {self.conf['env_path']}")
+                sys.exit(1)
 
         # append default commands to allowed list
         self.conf["allowed"] += list(set(variables.builtins_list) - set(["export"]))
diff --git a/lshell/variables.py b/lshell/variables.py
index 8aa9e3f..9c8df3d 100644
--- a/lshell/variables.py
+++ b/lshell/variables.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import sys
 import os
 
-__version__ = "0.10.1"
+__version__ = "0.10.2"
 
 # Required config variable list per user
 required_config = ["allowed", "forbidden", "warning_counter"]
diff --git a/man/lshell.1 b/man/lshell.1
index d44c9af..7f540d1 100644
--- a/man/lshell.1
+++ b/man/lshell.1
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 .\"
 .\"   Man page for the Limited Shell (lshell) project.
 .\"
-.TH lshell 1 "October, 2024" "v0.10.1"
+.TH lshell 1 "October, 2024" "v0.10.2"
 
 .SH NAME
 lshell \- Limited Shell
diff --git a/test/test_unit.py b/test/test_unit.py
index e3c1611..570c05d 100644
--- a/test/test_unit.py
+++ b/test/test_unit.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import os
 import unittest
 from getpass import getuser
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
 # import lshell specifics
 from lshell.shellcmd import ShellCmd
@@ -229,3 +230,60 @@ def test_28_checksecure_quoted_command(self):
         """U28 | quoted command should be parsed"""
         input_command = "echo'/1.sh'"
         return self.assertEqual(sec.check_secure(input_command, self.userconf)[0], 1)
+
+    def test_29_env_path_updates_path_variable(self):
+        """Test that --env_path updates the PATH environment variable."""
+        # store the original $PATH
+        original_path = os.environ["PATH"]
+
+        # Simulate passing the --env_path argument
+        random_path = "/usr/random:/this_is_a_test"
+        args = self.args + [
+            f"--env_path='{random_path}'",
+        ]
+        CheckConfig(args).returnconf()
+
+        # Verify that the $PATH has been updated correctly
+        expected_path = f"{random_path}:{original_path}"
+
+        # Assuming CheckConfig sets the environment variable
+        self.assertEqual(os.environ["PATH"], expected_path)
+
+        # Reset the PATH environment variable
+        os.environ["PATH"] = original_path
+
+    @patch("sys.exit")  # Mock sys.exit to prevent exiting the test on failure
+    def test_invalid_new_path(self, mock_exit):
+        """Test that an invalid new PATH triggers an error and sys.exit."""
+        original_path = os.environ["PATH"]
+        random_path = "/usr/random:/invalid$path"
+        args = self.args + [
+            f"--env_path='{random_path}'",
+        ]
+
+        # Simulate passing the --env_path argument
+        CheckConfig(args).returnconf()
+
+        # Check that sys.exit was called due to invalid path
+        mock_exit.assert_called_once_with(1)
+
+        # The PATH should not have been changed
+        self.assertEqual(os.environ["PATH"], original_path)
+
+    @patch("sys.exit")
+    def test_new_path_starts_with_colon(self, mock_exit):
+        """Test that a new PATH starting with a colon triggers an error."""
+        original_path = os.environ["PATH"]
+        random_path = ":/usr/random:/this_is_a_test"
+        args = self.args + [
+            f"--env_path='{random_path}'",
+        ]
+
+        # Simulate passing the --env_path argument
+        CheckConfig(args).returnconf()
+
+        # Check that sys.exit was called due to invalid path
+        mock_exit.assert_called_once()
+
+        # The PATH should not have been changed
+        self.assertEqual(os.environ["PATH"], original_path)