diff --git a/docs/build.rst b/docs/build.rst
index 01ddd32f0..0b27ef4d2 100644
--- a/docs/build.rst
+++ b/docs/build.rst
@@ -168,9 +168,7 @@ Build with Debug
 To use debug information in PySCIPOpt you need to build it with the following command:
 
 .. code-block::
-  
-  export CFLAGS="-UNDEBUG"
-  export CXXFLAGS="-UNDEBUG"
+  export PYSCIPOPT_DEBUG=True # With Windows CMD: set PYSCIPOPT_DEBUG=True
   python -m pip install .
 
 .. note:: Be aware that you will need the debug library of the SCIP Optimization Suite for this to work
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index abebcc5d4..b9f9f1991 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -62,9 +62,8 @@
     extra_link_args.append(f"-Wl,-rpath,{libdir}")
 
 # enable debug mode if requested
-if "--debug" in sys.argv:
+if os.environ.get("PYSCIPOPT_DEBUG")=="True":
     extra_compile_args.append("-UNDEBUG")
-    sys.argv.remove("--debug")
 
 use_cython = True
 
diff --git a/tests/test_vars.py b/tests/test_vars.py
index 75629752a..7021c4b81 100644
--- a/tests/test_vars.py
+++ b/tests/test_vars.py
@@ -79,4 +79,4 @@ def test_markRelaxationOnly():
     assert x.isRelaxationOnly()
     assert x.isDeletable()
     assert not y.isRelaxationOnly()
-    assert not y.isDeletable()
\ No newline at end of file
+    assert not y.isDeletable()