diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index f69351c..32bdeee 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ func Init() {
 	pflag.String("database.name", "lumeweb_portal", "Database name")
 	pflag.String("database.path", "./db.sqlite", "Database path for SQLite")
 	pflag.String("renterd-api-password", ".", "admin password for renterd")
+	pflag.Bool("debug", false, "enable debug mode")
 	pflag.Parse()
 
 	err := viper.BindPFlags(pflag.CommandLine)
diff --git a/logger/logger.go b/logger/logger.go
index 0bfa2f8..72391c0 100644
--- a/logger/logger.go
+++ b/logger/logger.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package logger
 
 import (
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 	"log"
 )
@@ -8,7 +9,14 @@ import (
 var logger *zap.Logger
 
 func Init() {
-	newLogger, err := zap.NewProduction()
+	var newLogger *zap.Logger
+	var err error
+
+	if viper.GetBool("debug") {
+		newLogger, err = zap.NewDevelopment()
+	} else {
+		newLogger, err = zap.NewProduction()
+	}
 
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)