diff --git a/env b/env
index 37e8d612f..781ce8bf9 100644
--- a/env
+++ b/env
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ MASTER_KEY=blahblahblah
 DOMAIN=localhost
 SITE_ID=TheMotte
 SITE_TITLE=The Motte
+ENFORCE_PRODUCTION=False
 GIPHY_KEY=blahblahblah
 DISCORD_SERVER_ID=blahblahblah
 DISCORD_CLIENT_ID=blahblahblah
diff --git a/files/__main__.py b/files/__main__.py
index 253985805..a3b361313 100644
--- a/files/__main__.py
+++ b/files/__main__.py
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ app.jinja_env.cache = {}
 app.jinja_env.auto_reload = True
 faulthandler.enable()
 
+if environ.get("ENFORCE_PRODUCTION", False) and app.config["DEBUG"]:
+	raise ValueError("Debug mode is not allowed! If this is a dev environment, please set ENFORCE_PRODUCTION to false")
+
 if environ.get("SITE_ID") is None:
 	from dotenv import load_dotenv
 	load_dotenv(dotenv_path=Path("env"))