diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 687f90e..550bab0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -67,6 +67,25 @@ DATABASES = {
 }
 ```
 
+If `export_env_variables` is set to `True`, each secret will also be exported as an environment variable, with the uppercase key as the variable name, e.g.:
+
+```python
+from confidential import SecretsManager
+import os
+
+secrets = SecretManager(
+    secrets_file=".secrets/production.json",
+    secrets_file_default=".secrets/defaults.json",  # Overridable defaults you can use in common environments
+    region_name="us-east-1",
+    export_env_variables=True,  # Optionally, export secrets as environment variables. Default is False.
+)
+
+# If the key of a secret is `api_key`, then the following is true:
+assert secrets["api_key"] == os.environ.get("API_KEY")
+```
+
+Trying to access an inexisting key returns `None`. On previous versions, it would throw an exception.
+
 # Testing
 
 First, install all dependencies:
diff --git a/confidential/secrets_manager.py b/confidential/secrets_manager.py
index ab7c1c1..a52e7f7 100644
--- a/confidential/secrets_manager.py
+++ b/confidential/secrets_manager.py
@@ -4,18 +4,16 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import pprint
-from botocore.exceptions import ClientError
 
 from confidential.secrets_manager_decrypter import SecretsManagerDecrypter
 from confidential.parameter_store_decrypter import ParameterStoreDecrypter
-from confidential.exceptions import PermissionError
 from confidential.utils import merge
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class SecretsManager:
-    def __init__(self, secrets_file=None, secrets_file_default=None, region_name=None, profile_name=None):
+    def __init__(self, secrets_file=None, secrets_file_default=None, region_name=None, profile_name=None, export_env_variables=False):
         session = boto3.session.Session(profile_name=profile_name)
 
         self.session = session
@@ -29,13 +27,16 @@ def __init__(self, secrets_file=None, secrets_file_default=None, region_name=Non
 
         self.secrets = merge(secrets_defaults, secrets)
 
+        if export_env_variables:
+            self.export_env_variables(self.secrets)
+
     def __getitem__(self, key):
         """
         Allows us to do <SecretsManager>["foo"] instead of <SecretsManager>.secrets.get("foo")
         """
         value = self.secrets.get(key)
         if value is None:
-            raise Exception(f"Value for '{key}' was not found in the secrets file", self.secrets)
+            log.warning(f"Value for '{key}' was not found in the secrets file. Returning 'None'.")
         return value
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -94,6 +95,11 @@ def parse_secrets_file(self, path_to_file) -> dict:
 
         return config
 
+    def export_env_variables(self, secrets):
+        for key in secrets:
+            uppercase_key = key.upper()
+            os.environ[uppercase_key] = str(secrets[key])
+
 
 @click.command()
 @click.argument("secrets_file", type=click.Path(exists=True))
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 9d204bd..26fadd3 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "confidential"
-version = "2.4.0"
+version = "2.5.0"
 description = "Manage secrets in your projects using AWS Secrets Manager"
 authors = [
     "Daniel van Flymen <dvf@candidco.com>",
diff --git a/tests/test_secrets_manager.py b/tests/test_secrets_manager.py
index 94a7b9b..ff4de0f 100644
--- a/tests/test_secrets_manager.py
+++ b/tests/test_secrets_manager.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import pytest
+import os
 
 from confidential import SecretsManager
 from confidential.exceptions import PermissionError
@@ -25,6 +26,18 @@ def test_happy_path(secrets_file):
     assert secrets["nested_object_parameter"] == {"ping": "pong"}
     assert secrets["nested_parameter_key"] == {"temp_c": 3, "snow_fall_cm": 20, "some_parameter": "cold" }
 
+def test_secrets_exported_to_env_vars(secrets_file):
+    with secrets_file(foo="bar", ping="pong") as f:
+        secrets = SecretsManager(f, region_name="us-west-1", export_env_variables=True)
+    
+    assert os.environ.get("FOO") == "bar"
+    assert secrets["foo"] == os.environ.get("FOO")
+
+    assert os.environ.get("PING") == "pong"
+    assert secrets["ping"] == os.environ.get("PING")
+
+    assert os.environ.get("blah") == None
+    assert secrets["blah"] == os.environ.get("BLAH") 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("secret_value_response", [{"FakeKey": "FakeValue"}, {"SecretString": None}])
 def test_missing_secret_string_raises_permission_error(secret_value_response, mocker, secrets_file):