diff --git a/tests/vm/Makefile.include b/tests/vm/Makefile.include
index 74ab522c55..80f7f6bdee 100644
--- a/tests/vm/Makefile.include
+++ b/tests/vm/Makefile.include
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ vm-boot-ssh-%: $(IMAGES_DIR)/%.img
 	$(call quiet-command, \
 		$(PYTHON) $(SRC_PATH)/tests/vm/$* \
 		$(if $(J),--jobs $(J)) \
+		$(if $(V)$(DEBUG), --debug) \
 		--image "$<" \
 		--interactive \
 		false, \