diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index baab4d165f4..9d8c6b5b25e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,16 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 ### Added
 
 - Prometheus exporter will register with a prometheus registerer on creation, there are options to control this. (#3239)
+- OTLP exporters now recognize:
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_INSECURE`
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_TRACES_INSECURE`
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_METRICS_INSECURE`
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_CLIENT_KEY`
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_TRACES_CLIENT_KEY`
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_METRICS_CLIENT_KEY`
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE`
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_TRACES_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE`
+  - `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_METRICS_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE`
 
 ### Changed
 
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig.go b/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig.go
index d97da06a35e..eb5b0a7962c 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig.go
@@ -63,9 +63,8 @@ func WithString(n string, fn func(string)) func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 func WithBool(n string, fn func(bool)) func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 	return func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 		if v, ok := e.GetEnvValue(n); ok {
-			if b, err := strconv.ParseBool(v); err == nil {
-				fn(b)
-			}
+			b := strings.ToLower(v) == "true"
+			fn(b)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -101,7 +100,8 @@ func WithURL(n string, fn func(*url.URL)) func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 	}
 }
 
-// WithTLSConfig retrieves the specified config and passes it to ConfigFn as a crypto/tls.Config.
+// WithCertPool retrieves the specified config and passes it to ConfigFn as a crypto/x509.CertPool
+// constructed from reading the certificate at the given path.
 func WithCertPool(n string, fn func(*x509.CertPool)) func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 	return func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 		if v, ok := e.GetEnvValue(n); ok {
@@ -114,6 +114,8 @@ func WithCertPool(n string, fn func(*x509.CertPool)) func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 	}
 }
 
+// WithCertPool retrieves the specified configs and passes it to ConfigFn as a crypto/tls.Certificate
+// constructed from reading the key pair at the given paths. Both files must exist.
 func WithClientCert(nc, nk string, fn func(tls.Certificate)) func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 	return func(e *EnvOptionsReader) {
 		vc, okc := e.GetEnvValue(nc)
diff --git a/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig_test.go b/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig_test.go
index cdbd4d23e67..cc6b89dcbfe 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig_test.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig_test.go
@@ -188,7 +188,11 @@ func TestEnvConfig(t *testing.T) {
 					options = append(options, testOption{TestBool: b})
 				}),
 			},
-			expectedOptions: []testOption{},
+			expectedOptions: []testOption{
+				{
+					TestBool: false,
+				},
+			},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "with a duration config",
@@ -382,6 +386,24 @@ func TestWithClientCert(t *testing.T) {
 		}),
 	)
 	assert.Equal(t, cert, option.TestTLS.Certificates[0])
+
+	reader.ReadFile = func(s string) ([]byte, error) { return []byte{}, nil }
+	option.TestTLS = nil
+	reader.Apply(
+		WithClientCert("CLIENT_CERTIFICATE", "CLIENT_KEY", func(c tls.Certificate) {
+			option = testOption{TestTLS: &tls.Config{Certificates: []tls.Certificate{c}}}
+		}),
+	)
+	assert.Equal(t, nil, option.TestTLS.Certificates)
+
+	reader.GetEnv = func(s string) string { return "" }
+	option.TestTLS = nil
+	reader.Apply(
+		WithClientCert("CLIENT_CERTIFICATE", "CLIENT_KEY", func(c tls.Certificate) {
+			option = testOption{TestTLS: &tls.Config{Certificates: []tls.Certificate{c}}}
+		}),
+	)
+	assert.Equal(t, nil, option.TestTLS.Certificates)
 }
 
 func TestStringToHeader(t *testing.T) {