diff --git a/pelican/tools/templates/Makefile.in b/pelican/tools/templates/Makefile.in
index 221568aa..fd553550 100644
--- a/pelican/tools/templates/Makefile.in
+++ b/pelican/tools/templates/Makefile.in
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ S3_BUCKET=$s3_bucket
 
 DROPBOX_DIR=$dropbox_dir
 
+DEBUG ?= 0
+ifeq ($(DEBUG), 1)
+	PELICANOPTS += -D
+endif 
+
 help:
 	@echo 'Makefile for a pelican Web site                                        '
 	@echo '                                                                       '