diff --git a/src/options/display.c b/src/options/display.c
index d828709b4..fa70f13e2 100644
--- a/src/options/display.c
+++ b/src/options/display.c
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ void ffOptionsInitDisplay(FFOptionsDisplay* options)
     options->disableLinewrap = !options->pipe;
     #else
     options->disableLinewrap = false;
-    options->debugMode = false;
+    options->debugMode = !!getenv("FF_DEBUG");
     #endif
 
     options->durationSpaceBeforeUnit = FF_SPACE_BEFORE_UNIT_DEFAULT;