diff --git a/dotdrop/options.py b/dotdrop/options.py
index d27fae5..15148a6 100644
--- a/dotdrop/options.py
+++ b/dotdrop/options.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ from dotdrop.config import Cfg
 ENV_PROFILE = 'DOTDROP_PROFILE'
 ENV_CONFIG = 'DOTDROP_CONFIG'
 ENV_NOBANNER = 'DOTDROP_NOBANNER'
+ENV_DEBUG = 'DOTDROP_DEBUG'
+ENV_NODEBUG = 'DOTDROP_FORCE_NODEBUG'
 BACKUP_SUFFIX = '.dotdropbak'
 
 PROFILE = socket.gethostname()
@@ -98,6 +100,10 @@ class Options(AttrMonitor):
             self.args = docopt(USAGE, version=VERSION)
         self.log = Logger()
         self.debug = self.args['--verbose']
+        if not self.debug and ENV_DEBUG in os.environ:
+            self.debug = True
+        if ENV_NODEBUG in os.environ:
+            self.debug = False
         self.profile = self.args['--profile']
         self.confpath = os.path.expanduser(self.args['--cfg'])
         if self.debug:
diff --git a/tests-ng/actions-args.sh b/tests-ng/actions-args.sh
index 86acd3e..fc1f619 100755
--- a/tests-ng/actions-args.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/actions-args.sh
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "test" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh b/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh
index 782bc31..4cc924d 100755
--- a/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ profiles:
     - d_dir
     - d_dlink
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo 'test' > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/actions.sh b/tests-ng/actions.sh
index 604ea58..f05566d 100755
--- a/tests-ng/actions.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/actions.sh
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "test" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/compare-ignore.sh b/tests-ng/compare-ignore.sh
index d3f992a..a19229f 100755
--- a/tests-ng/compare-ignore.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/compare-ignore.sh
@@ -103,12 +103,12 @@ cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} compare -c ${cfg} --verbose --ignore=${patt}
 [ "$?" = "0" ] && exit 1
 set -e
 
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # adding ignore in dotfile
 cfg2="${basedir}/config2.yaml"
 sed '/d_config:/a \ \ \ \ cmpignore:\n\ \ \ \ - "*/config/b"' ${cfg} > ${cfg2}
-cat ${cfg2}
+#cat ${cfg2}
 
 # expects one diff
 echo "[+] comparing with ignore in dotfile - 1 diff"
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ set -e
 cfg2="${basedir}/config2.yaml"
 sed '/d_config:/a \ \ \ \ cmpignore:\n\ \ \ \ - "*b"' ${cfg} > ${cfg2}
 sed -i '/d_program:/a \ \ \ \ cmpignore:\n\ \ \ \ - "*b"' ${cfg2}
-cat ${cfg2}
+#cat ${cfg2}
 
 # expects no diff
 patt="*b"
diff --git a/tests-ng/duplicate-key.sh b/tests-ng/duplicate-key.sh
index 481dca7..0470fd4 100755
--- a/tests-ng/duplicate-key.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/duplicate-key.sh
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the imported one
 mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/${tmpd}
diff --git a/tests-ng/dynactions.sh b/tests-ng/dynactions.sh
index 7ba7963..98d76d4 100755
--- a/tests-ng/dynactions.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/dynactions.sh
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "test" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/dyndotfilepaths.sh b/tests-ng/dyndotfilepaths.sh
index 4821a3c..e9561ef 100755
--- a/tests-ng/dyndotfilepaths.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/dyndotfilepaths.sh
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "{{@@ dpath @@}}" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/dyninclude.sh b/tests-ng/dyninclude.sh
index 1075c8f..f191717 100755
--- a/tests-ng/dyninclude.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/dyninclude.sh
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ profiles:
     include:
     - profile{{@@ dvar1 @@}}
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 c1="content:abc"
diff --git a/tests-ng/dynvariables.sh b/tests-ng/dynvariables.sh
index 54b7801..2e65356 100755
--- a/tests-ng/dynvariables.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/dynvariables.sh
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "{{@@ var1 @@}}" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/header.sh b/tests-ng/header.sh
index fd70c08..67a43ca 100755
--- a/tests-ng/header.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/header.sh
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "{{@@ header() @@}}" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/jhelpers.sh b/tests-ng/jhelpers.sh
index a6bc816..afc2bcc 100755
--- a/tests-ng/jhelpers.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/jhelpers.sh
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "this is the test dotfile" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
@@ -83,12 +83,12 @@ echo "{%@@ if exists('/dev/abcdef') @@%}" >> ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
 echo "this should not exist" >> ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
 echo "{%@@ endif @@%}" >> ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
 
-cat ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+#cat ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
 
 # install
 cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -f -c ${cfg} -p p1 -V
 
-cat ${tmpd}/abc
+#cat ${tmpd}/abc
 
 grep '^this should exist' ${tmpd}/abc >/dev/null
 grep -v '^this should not exist' ${tmpd}/abc >/dev/null
diff --git a/tests-ng/link-templates-dir-home.sh b/tests-ng/link-templates-dir-home.sh
index b57542d..b734c36 100755
--- a/tests-ng/link-templates-dir-home.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/link-templates-dir-home.sh
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/link-templates-dir.sh b/tests-ng/link-templates-dir.sh
index 6699e5b..4401e96 100755
--- a/tests-ng/link-templates-dir.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/link-templates-dir.sh
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 mkdir -p ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/link-templates.sh b/tests-ng/link-templates.sh
index fb87d58..b242530 100755
--- a/tests-ng/link-templates.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/link-templates.sh
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "{{@@ profile @@}}" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/profile-dynvariables.sh b/tests-ng/profile-dynvariables.sh
index 62a3ac1..47436ed 100755
--- a/tests-ng/profile-dynvariables.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/profile-dynvariables.sh
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "===================" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/recvariables.sh b/tests-ng/recvariables.sh
index 6cced8a..55e9a83 100755
--- a/tests-ng/recvariables.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/recvariables.sh
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "var3: {{@@ var3 @@}}" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/transformations.sh b/tests-ng/transformations.sh
index 661d7c2..2f1861c 100755
--- a/tests-ng/transformations.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/transformations.sh
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ profiles:
     - f_def
     - d_ghi
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the base64 dotfile
 tmpf=`mktemp --suffix='-dotdrop-tests'`
diff --git a/tests-ng/update-ignore.sh b/tests-ng/update-ignore.sh
index 866dc20..372867a 100755
--- a/tests-ng/update-ignore.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/update-ignore.sh
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 #tree ${dt}
 
diff --git a/tests-ng/update-templates.sh b/tests-ng/update-templates.sh
index cfa635a..5fc20ed 100755
--- a/tests-ng/update-templates.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/update-templates.sh
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "head" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
@@ -92,14 +92,14 @@ echo "is p1" >> ${tmpd}/abc
 echo "tail" >> ${tmpd}/abc
 
 # update
-cat ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+#cat ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
 set +e
 patch=`cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} update -P -p p1 -k f_abc --cfg ${cfg} 2>&1 | grep 'try patching with' | sed 's/"//g'`
 set -e
 patch=`echo ${patch} | sed 's/^.*: //g'`
 echo "patching with: ${patch}"
 eval ${patch}
-cat ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
+#cat ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
 
 ## CLEANING
 rm -rf ${tmps} ${tmpd} ${tmpw}
diff --git a/tests-ng/variables.sh b/tests-ng/variables.sh
index 357351a..5fe620d 100755
--- a/tests-ng/variables.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/variables.sh
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "{{@@ var1 @@}}" > ${tmps}/dotfiles/abc
diff --git a/tests-ng/workdir.sh b/tests-ng/workdir.sh
index bee36f0..85954a6 100755
--- a/tests-ng/workdir.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/workdir.sh
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "{{@@ profile @@}}" > ${tmpf}/abc
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "{{@@ profile @@}}" > ${tmpf}/abc
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ profiles:
     dotfiles:
     - f_abc
 _EOF
-cat ${cfg}
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 # create the dotfile
 echo "{{@@ profile @@}}" > ${tmpf}/abc
diff --git a/tests.sh b/tests.sh
index 96d5fe0..5777444 100755
--- a/tests.sh
+++ b/tests.sh
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ which ${nosebin} 2>/dev/null
 [ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "Install nosetests" && exit 1
 set -e
 
+# comment this to get debug info
+export DOTDROP_FORCE_NODEBUG=
+
 # execute tests with coverage
 PYTHONPATH=dotdrop ${nosebin} -s --with-coverage --cover-package=dotdrop
 #PYTHONPATH=dotdrop python3 -m pytest tests
diff --git a/tests/helpers.py b/tests/helpers.py
index ff65799..d43d1f2 100644
--- a/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/helpers.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import string
 import random
 import tempfile
 
-from dotdrop.options import Options
+from dotdrop.options import Options, ENV_NODEBUG
 from dotdrop.linktypes import LinkTypes
 from dotdrop.utils import strip_home
 
@@ -128,6 +128,8 @@ def load_options(confpath, profile):
     o.link = LinkTypes.NOLINK.value
     o.install_showdiff = True
     o.debug = True
+    if ENV_NODEBUG in os.environ:
+        o.debug = False
     o.compare_dopts = ''
     o.variables = {}
     return o
diff --git a/tests/test_compare.py b/tests/test_compare.py
index 34f11ec..43553d5 100644
--- a/tests/test_compare.py
+++ b/tests/test_compare.py
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ class TestCompare(unittest.TestCase):
     def compare(self, o, tmp, nbdotfiles):
         dotfiles = o.dotfiles
         self.assertTrue(len(dotfiles) == nbdotfiles)
-        t = Templategen(base=o.dotpath, debug=True)
+        t = Templategen(base=o.dotpath, debug=o.debug)
         inst = Installer(create=o.create, backup=o.backup,
-                         dry=o.dry, base=o.dotpath, debug=True)
+                         dry=o.dry, base=o.dotpath, debug=o.debug)
         comp = Comparator()
         results = {}
         for dotfile in dotfiles:
diff --git a/tests/test_install.py b/tests/test_install.py
index ea8e5b1..d844322 100644
--- a/tests/test_install.py
+++ b/tests/test_install.py
@@ -186,7 +186,6 @@ exec bspwm
         # install them
         o = load_options(confpath, profile)
         o.safe = False
-        o.debug = True
         o.install_showdiff = True
         o.variables = {}
         cmd_install(o)
diff --git a/tests/test_update.py b/tests/test_update.py
index ba994e0..4b30621 100644
--- a/tests/test_update.py
+++ b/tests/test_update.py
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
                                       create=self.CONFIG_CREATE)
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(confpath))
         o = load_options(confpath, profile)
-        o.debug = True
         o.update_showpatch = True
         dfiles = [d1, dir1, d2, d3t, dsubstmp]
 
@@ -105,7 +104,6 @@ class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):
         # get new config
         o = load_options(confpath, profile)
         o.safe = False
-        o.debug = True
         o.update_showpatch = True
         trans = Transform('trans', 'cp -r {0} {1}')
         d3tb = os.path.basename(d3t)