diff --git a/stestr/cli.py b/stestr/cli.py
index 86d01033..5900326f 100644
--- a/stestr/cli.py
+++ b/stestr/cli.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def __init__(self):
             )
 
     def initialize_app(self, argv):
+        self.options.debug = True
         self.LOG.debug('initialize_app')
 
     def prepare_to_run_command(self, cmd):