The situation is the following. This is an Ubuntu box: Linux ns3mx3 2.6.32-41-server #89-Ubuntu SMP Fri Apr 27 22:33:31 UTC 2012 x86_64 GNU/Linux Which means that when I first issue \e in psql, I'm asked to choose an editor. Then there is the .selected_editor file, which contains # Generated by /usr/bin/select-editor SELECTED_EDITOR="/usr/bin/mcedit-debian" So far this is OK (it's my problem that I consider this completely useless, but never mind). Then I set up a .psqlrc file: \set PSQL_EDITOR /usr/bin/vim \set EDITOR /usr/bin/vim \set VISUAL /usr/bin/vim As you can see, I wanted to be sure not to miss a candidate variable for editor setting. The file is used as expected: test=# \echo :EDITOR /usr/bin/vim But when I issue the \e command, none of these is used - I fall back to SELECTED_EDITOR. The situation remains just the same if I append an \unset SELECTED_EDITOR to the .psqlrc file. Now how can I make .psqlrc setting win over the default editor? (PostgreSQL version id 9.1.4)