diff --git a/pkg/cli/cmds/root.go b/pkg/cli/cmds/root.go
index a01159db62..b18c5d8f05 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/cmds/root.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/cmds/root.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ func NewApp() *cli.App {
 			Name:        "debug",
 			Usage:       "Turn on debug logs",
 			Destination: &debug,
+			EnvVar:      "K3S_DEBUG",
 		},
 	}