diff --git a/test/runner/lib/ansible_util.py b/test/runner/lib/ansible_util.py
index 732c4cb76b..f0f558d1d2 100644
--- a/test/runner/lib/ansible_util.py
+++ b/test/runner/lib/ansible_util.py
@@ -32,4 +32,7 @@ def ansible_environment(args):
 
     env.update(ansible)
 
+    if args.debug:
+        env.update(dict(ANSIBLE_DEBUG='true'))
+
     return env
diff --git a/test/runner/lib/util.py b/test/runner/lib/util.py
index 51d2bfe934..0326c27089 100644
--- a/test/runner/lib/util.py
+++ b/test/runner/lib/util.py
@@ -416,6 +416,7 @@ class CommonConfig(object):
         self.color = args.color  # type: bool
         self.explain = args.explain  # type: bool
         self.verbosity = args.verbosity  # type: int
+        self.debug = args.debug  # type: bool
 
 
 class EnvironmentConfig(CommonConfig):
diff --git a/test/runner/test.py b/test/runner/test.py
index c604258ed4..e08b6ccdcc 100755
--- a/test/runner/test.py
+++ b/test/runner/test.py
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ def parse_args():
                         const='yes',
                         default='auto')
 
+    common.add_argument('--debug',
+                        action='store_true',
+                        help='run ansible commands in debug mode')
+
     test = argparse.ArgumentParser(add_help=False, parents=[common])
 
     test.add_argument('include',