diff --git a/.github/workflows/checks.yml b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
index 96e2809..cf2029c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
@@ -97,3 +97,15 @@ jobs:
           openapi-file: test_data/openapi.json
           command-args: --model-name-prefix=BLAH
       - run: test -f rust-client/src/models/blah_a_model.rs
+  test-env-vars:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4.2.2
+      - name: Generate with environment variables
+        env:
+          _JAVA_OPTIONS: "-DmaxYamlCodePoints=99999999"
+        uses: openapi-generators/openapitools-generator-action@v1
+        with:
+          generator: rust
+          openapi-file: test_data/openapi.json
+      - run: cd rust-client
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9f11b75..2483976 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 .idea/
+__pycache__/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 37dde13..82b8bc9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,6 +43,45 @@ See user-defined [templates](https://openapi-generator.tech/docs/templating#modi
 
 Additional arguments to pass through to the [generate](https://openapi-generator.tech/docs/usage#generate) command.
 
+## Environment Variables
+
+The action automatically passes through certain environment variables to the OpenAPI Generator container. You can set these using GitHub Actions' built-in `env:` feature.
+
+### Supported Environment Variables
+
+The following environment variables are automatically passed through when set:
+- `_JAVA_OPTIONS` - Java runtime options (useful for handling large YAML files)
+- `JAVA_OPTS` - Additional Java options
+- `NODE_ENV` - Node.js environment setting
+- `DEBUG` - Debug mode flag
+- `OPENAPI_GENERATOR_VERSION` - Override generator version
+
+### Usage Examples
+
+For handling large YAML files:
+```yaml
+- name: Generate Client
+  env:
+    _JAVA_OPTIONS: "-DmaxYamlCodePoints=99999999"
+  uses: openapi-generators/openapitools-generator-action@v1
+  with:
+    generator: powershell
+    openapi-file: large-redfish-spec.yaml
+```
+
+Multiple environment variables:
+```yaml
+- name: Generate Client
+  env:
+    _JAVA_OPTIONS: "-DmaxYamlCodePoints=99999999"
+    NODE_ENV: "production"
+    DEBUG: "true"
+  uses: openapi-generators/openapitools-generator-action@v1
+  with:
+    generator: typescript-angular
+    openapi-file: spec.yaml
+```
+
 ## Outputs
 
 No outputs are returned. The generated client is placed in the current directory. The name of the package (unless configured differently) will be `generator-name-client` where "generator-name" is (unsurprisingly) the name of the generator used to generate the client.
diff --git a/entrypoint.py b/entrypoint.py
index 11fa6ee..f6fe0bb 100755
--- a/entrypoint.py
+++ b/entrypoint.py
@@ -1,10 +1,25 @@
 from subprocess import call
 from sys import argv
-from os import getenv, getuid
+from os import getenv, getuid, environ
 
 (_, generator, docker_repository, docker_image, generator_tag, openapi_file, openapi_url, config_file, template_dir, *args) = argv
 
 cmd = f"docker run -u {getuid()}:1001 --rm --workdir /github/workspace -v {getenv('GITHUB_WORKSPACE')}:/github/workspace"
+
+# Pass through environment variables that are commonly needed for OpenAPI generation
+# This allows users to set these via GitHub Actions env: instead of custom input
+env_vars_to_pass = [
+    '_JAVA_OPTIONS',
+    'JAVA_OPTS', 
+    'NODE_ENV',
+    'DEBUG',
+    'OPENAPI_GENERATOR_VERSION'
+]
+
+for env_var in env_vars_to_pass:
+    if env_var in environ:
+        cmd = f"{cmd} -e {env_var}='{environ[env_var]}'"
+
 cmd = f"{cmd} {docker_repository}/{docker_image}:{generator_tag} generate"
 cmd = f"{cmd} -g {generator} -o /github/workspace/{generator}-client"