diff --git a/examples/docker-compose.yml b/examples/docker-compose.yml
index 6bd3341..b7544e1 100644
--- a/examples/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/examples/docker-compose.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ services:
     build: go-gin-gonic
     volumes:
       - ./go-gin-gonic:/app
-
+    environment:
+      - NIGHTWATCH_DEBUG=${NIGHTWATCH_DEBUG:-no}
   example:
     build: .
     volumes:
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index b4f56c2..ae748d3 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func main() {
 		Version: Version,
 		Usage:   "A utility for running arbitrary commands when files change",
 		Before: func(ctx *cli.Context) error {
-			if ctx.Bool("debug") {
+			if ctx.Bool("debug") || os.Getenv("NIGHTWATCH_DEBUG") == "yes" {
 				logrus.SetLevel(logrus.DebugLevel)
 			}