diff --git a/traitlets/config/application.py b/traitlets/config/application.py
index 1fd61c13..b01a11e5 100644
--- a/traitlets/config/application.py
+++ b/traitlets/config/application.py
@@ -973,8 +973,7 @@ def load_config_file(
     @catch_config_error
     def load_config_environ(self) -> None:
         """Load config files by environment."""
-
-        PREFIX = self.name.upper()
+        PREFIX = self.name.upper().replace("-", "_")
         new_config = Config()
 
         self.log.debug('Looping through config variables with prefix "%s"', PREFIX)