diff --git a/server/config/config.go b/server/config/config.go
index 2250de3d98476cc82e8e5d6e815b39a2442b0d9f..79cc867f4c2c3fdfbe18f81dff9a5c544f8b44fe 100644
--- a/server/config/config.go
+++ b/server/config/config.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	Port             int      `env:"SOFT_SERVE_PORT" envDefault:"23231"`
 	KeyPath          string   `env:"SOFT_SERVE_KEY_PATH"`
 	RepoPath         string   `env:"SOFT_SERVE_REPO_PATH" envDefault:".repos"`
+	Debug            bool     `env:"SOFT_SERVE_DEBUG" envDefault:"false"`
 	InitialAdminKeys []string `env:"SOFT_SERVE_INITIAL_ADMIN_KEY" envSeparator:"\n"`
 	Callbacks        Callbacks
 	ErrorLog         *glog.Logger
@@ -34,6 +35,9 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 	if err := env.Parse(cfg); err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	if cfg.Debug {
+		log.SetLevel(log.DebugLevel)
+	}
 	if cfg.KeyPath == "" {
 		// NB: cross-platform-compatible path
 		cfg.KeyPath = filepath.Join(".ssh", "soft_serve_server_ed25519")