diff --git a/features/cli/debug.feature b/features/cli/debug.feature
index f22eee6..acd23ae 100644
--- a/features/cli/debug.feature
+++ b/features/cli/debug.feature
@@ -11,3 +11,9 @@ Feature: CLI debug option
     Then the output must contain "producer"
     And the output must contain "net-ssh"
     And the output must contain ruby lib directory
+
+  Scenario: enables debug mode from the environment
+    Given a recipe with an error
+    And I set the environment variable "PRODUCER_DEBUG"
+    When I execute the recipe
+    Then the output must contain "producer"
diff --git a/lib/producer/core/cli.rb b/lib/producer/core/cli.rb
index b64f25b..0519099 100644
--- a/lib/producer/core/cli.rb
+++ b/lib/producer/core/cli.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ module Producer
       ARGUMENTS_SEPARATOR = '--'.freeze
 
       ENV_VERBOSE_KEY = 'PRODUCER_VERBOSE'.freeze
+      ENV_DEBUG_KEY   = 'PRODUCER_DEBUG'.freeze
 
       class << self
         def run!(arguments, stdin: $stdin, stdout: $stdout, stderr: $stderr)
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ module Producer
 
       def configure_environment!(environment)
         @env.verbose = true if environment.key? ENV_VERBOSE_KEY
+        @env.debug = true   if environment.key? ENV_DEBUG_KEY
       end
 
       def split_arguments_lists(arguments)
diff --git a/spec/producer/core/cli_spec.rb b/spec/producer/core/cli_spec.rb
index ee55b48..fa970dc 100644
--- a/spec/producer/core/cli_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/producer/core/cli_spec.rb
@@ -84,6 +84,14 @@ module Producer::Core
           expect(cli.env).to be_verbose
         end
       end
+
+      context 'when PRODUCER_DEBUG environment variable is set' do
+        before { environment['PRODUCER_DEBUG'] = 'yes' }
+
+        it 'enables env debug mode' do
+          expect(cli.env).to be_debug
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     describe '#parse_arguments!' do