diff --git a/.appveyor.yml b/.appveyor.yml
index d9ebf748e..156761f9f 100644
--- a/.appveyor.yml
+++ b/.appveyor.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ services:
 - docker
 
 environment:
-  COMMAND: rmdir -v deps/rocksdb && ln -sv /usr/src/rocksdb deps && ./autogen.sh && ./configure --enable-assert && make install && construct -smoketest localhost
+  COMMAND: if [[ "${APPVEYOR_REPO_COMMIT_MESSAGE}" == *"[ci debug]"* ]]; then export DEBUG_FLAGS="--enable-debug"; fi && rmdir -v deps/rocksdb && ln -sv /usr/src/rocksdb deps && ./autogen.sh && ./configure --enable-assert ${DEBUG_FLAGS} && make install && construct -smoketest -debug localhost
 
   matrix:
 #   - APPVEYOR_BUILD_WORKER_IMAGE: Ubuntu1804