diff --git a/javascript/extractor/src/com/semmle/js/extractor/EnvironmentVariables.java b/javascript/extractor/src/com/semmle/js/extractor/EnvironmentVariables.java
index 7c5bac5a9f5..6f8e7124b3c 100644
--- a/javascript/extractor/src/com/semmle/js/extractor/EnvironmentVariables.java
+++ b/javascript/extractor/src/com/semmle/js/extractor/EnvironmentVariables.java
@@ -11,15 +11,18 @@ public class EnvironmentVariables {
   public static final String CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_SCRATCH_DIR_ENV_VAR =
       "CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_SCRATCH_DIR";
 
+  public static final String LGTM_WORKSPACE_ENV_VAR =
+      "LGTM_WORKSPACE";
+
   /**
    * Gets the extractor root based on the <code>CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_ROOT</code> or <code>
    * SEMMLE_DIST</code> or environment variable, or <code>null</code> if neither is set.
    */
   public static String tryGetExtractorRoot() {
-    String env = Env.systemEnv().get(CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_ROOT_ENV_VAR);
-    if (env != null && !env.isEmpty()) return env;
-    env = Env.systemEnv().get(Var.SEMMLE_DIST);
-    if (env != null && !env.isEmpty()) return env;
+    String env = Env.systemEnv().getNonEmpty(CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_ROOT_ENV_VAR);
+    if (env != null) return env;
+    env = Env.systemEnv().getNonEmpty(Var.SEMMLE_DIST);
+    if (env != null) return env;
     return null;
   }
 
@@ -35,11 +38,15 @@ public class EnvironmentVariables {
     return env;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets the scratch directory from the appropriate environment variable.
+   */
   public static String getScratchDir() {
-    String env = Env.systemEnv().get(CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_SCRATCH_DIR_ENV_VAR);
-    if (env == null) {
-      throw new UserError(CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_SCRATCH_DIR_ENV_VAR + " must be set");
-    }
-    return env;
+    String env = Env.systemEnv().getNonEmpty(CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_SCRATCH_DIR_ENV_VAR);
+    if (env != null) return env;
+    env = Env.systemEnv().getNonEmpty(LGTM_WORKSPACE_ENV_VAR);
+    if (env != null) return env;
+
+    throw new UserError(CODEQL_EXTRACTOR_JAVASCRIPT_SCRATCH_DIR_ENV_VAR + " or " + LGTM_WORKSPACE_ENV_VAR + " must be set");
   }
 }