diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8968dd9..8b35d9d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -69,6 +69,12 @@ npm start
 
 The debugger tools are available when running in dev mode and can be activated with keyboard shortcuts as defined here https://github.com/sindresorhus/electron-debug#features.
 
+It can also be displayed automatically from the `SHOW_DEV_TOOLS` environment variable such as:
+
+```bash
+SHOW_DEV_TOOLS=true npm start
+```
+
 #### Building the production distribution
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 0e4f760..285c84f 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ const path = require('path');
 const URL = require('url');
 const config = require('./app/features/config');
 
+const showDevTools = Boolean(process.env.SHOW_DEV_TOOLS);
+
 // We need this because of https://github.com/electron/electron/issues/18214
 app.commandLine.appendSwitch('disable-site-isolation-trials');
 
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ contextMenu({
 // show them automatically though.
 debug({
     isEnabled: true,
-    showDevTools: false
+    showDevTools
 });
 
 /**