diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 053ab123a..d08d681c5 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ ENV INSTANCE_NAME=searxng \
     MORTY_KEY= \
     MORTY_URL= \
     SEARXNG_SETTINGS_PATH=/etc/searxng/settings.yml \
-    UWSGI_SETTINGS_PATH=/etc/searxng/uwsgi.ini
+    UWSGI_SETTINGS_PATH=/etc/searxng/uwsgi.ini \
+    UWSGI_WORKERS=%k \
+    UWSGI_THREADS=4
 
 WORKDIR /usr/local/searxng
 
diff --git a/dockerfiles/uwsgi.ini b/dockerfiles/uwsgi.ini
index 2d3155976..fc026b792 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/uwsgi.ini
+++ b/dockerfiles/uwsgi.ini
@@ -4,8 +4,12 @@ uid = searxng
 gid = searxng
 
 # Number of workers (usually CPU count)
-workers = %k
-threads = 4
+# default value: %k (= number of CPU core, see Dockerfile)
+workers = $(UWSGI_WORKERS)
+
+# Number of threads per worker
+# default value: 4 (see Dockerfile)
+threads = $(UWSGI_THREADS)
 
 # The right granted on the created socket
 chmod-socket = 666
diff --git a/docs/admin/installation-docker.rst b/docs/admin/installation-docker.rst
index c667c4f44..09471891b 100644
--- a/docs/admin/installation-docker.rst
+++ b/docs/admin/installation-docker.rst
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ instance using `docker run <https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/run/>`_:
                 searxng/searxng
    2f998.... # container's ID
 
+The environment variables UWSGI_WORKERS and UWSGI_THREADS overwrite the default
+number of UWSGI processes and UWSGI threads specified in `/etc/searxng/uwsgi.ini`.
+
 Open your WEB browser and visit the URL:
 
 .. code:: sh