diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/settings.py b/openstack_dashboard/settings.py
index 951733a848..cb6031476b 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/settings.py
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/settings.py
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ WEBROOT = '/'
 LOGIN_URL = None
 LOGOUT_URL = None
 LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL = None
+MEDIA_ROOT = None
+MEDIA_URL = None
 STATIC_ROOT = None
 STATIC_URL = None
 
@@ -287,6 +289,13 @@ THEME_COLLECTION_DIR = 'themes'
 # Theme Cookie Name
 THEME_COOKIE_NAME = 'theme'
 
+POLICY_CHECK_FUNCTION = None
+
+CSRF_COOKIE_AGE = None
+
+COMPRESS_OFFLINE_CONTEXT = 'horizon.themes.offline_context'
+
+# Notice all customizable configurations should be above this line
 try:
     from local.local_settings import *  # noqa
 except ImportError:
@@ -326,8 +335,11 @@ if LOGOUT_URL is None:
 if LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL is None:
     LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL = WEBROOT
 
-MEDIA_ROOT = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(ROOT_PATH, '..', 'media'))
-MEDIA_URL = WEBROOT + 'media/'
+if MEDIA_ROOT is None:
+    MEDIA_ROOT = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(ROOT_PATH, '..', 'media'))
+
+if MEDIA_URL is None:
+    MEDIA_URL = WEBROOT + 'media/'
 
 if STATIC_ROOT is None:
     STATIC_ROOT = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(ROOT_PATH, '..', 'static'))
@@ -395,7 +407,8 @@ def check(actions, request, target=None):
     from openstack_auth import policy
     return policy.check(actions, request, target=None)
 
-POLICY_CHECK_FUNCTION = check
+if POLICY_CHECK_FUNCTION is None:
+    POLICY_CHECK_FUNCTION = check
 
 # This base context objects gets added to the offline context generator
 # for each theme configured.
@@ -405,9 +418,5 @@ HORIZON_COMPRESS_OFFLINE_CONTEXT_BASE = {
     'HORIZON_CONFIG': HORIZON_CONFIG
 }
 
-COMPRESS_OFFLINE_CONTEXT = 'horizon.themes.offline_context'
-
 if DEBUG:
     logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
-
-CSRF_COOKIE_AGE = None