diff --git a/src/signal_documentation/settings.py b/src/signal_documentation/settings.py
index be1db25..351a8c9 100644
--- a/src/signal_documentation/settings.py
+++ b/src/signal_documentation/settings.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 """
 import os
 import sys
+from distutils.util import strtobool
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@
 
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = True
+DEBUG = bool(strtobool(os.getenv('DEBUG', 'True')))
 
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!