diff --git a/constructor/main.py b/constructor/main.py
index 79fa8c3ef..a9b082dbd 100644
--- a/constructor/main.py
+++ b/constructor/main.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def get_output_filename(info):
 def main_build(dir_path, output_dir='.', platform=cc_platform,
                verbose=True, cache_dir=DEFAULT_CACHE_DIR,
                dry_run=False, conda_exe="conda.exe",
-               config_filename="construct.yaml"):
+               config_filename="construct.yaml", debug=False):
     logger.info('platform: %s', platform)
     if not os.path.isfile(conda_exe):
         sys.exit("Error: Conda executable '%s' does not exist!" % conda_exe)
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ def main_build(dir_path, output_dir='.', platform=cc_platform,
     info['_platform'] = platform
     info['_download_dir'] = join(cache_dir, platform)
     info['_conda_exe'] = abspath(conda_exe)
+    info['_debug'] = debug
     itypes = get_installer_type(info)
 
     if platform != cc_platform and 'pkg' in itypes and not cc_platform.startswith('osx-'):
@@ -467,7 +468,7 @@ def main():
     main_build(dir_path, output_dir=out_dir, platform=args.platform,
                verbose=args.verbose, cache_dir=args.cache_dir,
                dry_run=args.dry_run, conda_exe=conda_exe,
-               config_filename=args.config_filename)
+               config_filename=args.config_filename, debug=args.debug)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/constructor/osxpkg.py b/constructor/osxpkg.py
index b3831ec7f..3d324b068 100644
--- a/constructor/osxpkg.py
+++ b/constructor/osxpkg.py
@@ -507,7 +507,8 @@ def pkgbuild_script(name, info, src, dst='postinstall', **kwargs):
         identifier=info.get("reverse_domain_identifier"),
         install_location=info.get("default_location_pkg"),
     )
-    rm_rf(SCRIPTS_DIR)
+    if not info.get('_debug'):
+        rm_rf(SCRIPTS_DIR)
 
 
 def create(info, verbose=False):
diff --git a/constructor/shar.py b/constructor/shar.py
index aa5988435..b655d9808 100644
--- a/constructor/shar.py
+++ b/constructor/shar.py
@@ -199,4 +199,5 @@ def create(info, verbose=False):
 
     os.unlink(tarball)
     os.chmod(shar_path, 0o755)
-    shutil.rmtree(tmp_dir)
+    if not info.get('_debug'):
+        shutil.rmtree(tmp_dir)
diff --git a/constructor/winexe.py b/constructor/winexe.py
index 74cf2e4da..b869dde69 100644
--- a/constructor/winexe.py
+++ b/constructor/winexe.py
@@ -488,7 +488,8 @@ def create(info, verbose=False):
     if signing_tool:
         signing_tool.verify_signature(info['_outpath'])
 
-    shutil.rmtree(tmp_dir)
+    if not info.get('_debug'):
+        shutil.rmtree(tmp_dir)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/news/910-debug b/news/910-debug
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da59c99f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/910-debug
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* When `--debug` is used, do not delete temporary workspaces to facilitate inspection. (#910)
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Docs
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Other
+
+* Run SH tests in `-x` mode if `CONSTRUCTOR_DEBUG=1` is set. (#910)
diff --git a/tests/test_examples.py b/tests/test_examples.py
index c0a744783..cf862f368 100644
--- a/tests/test_examples.py
+++ b/tests/test_examples.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 CONDA_EXE, CONDA_EXE_VERSION = identify_conda_exe(CONSTRUCTOR_CONDA_EXE)
 if CONDA_EXE_VERSION is not None:
     CONDA_EXE_VERSION = Version(CONDA_EXE_VERSION)
-CONSTRUCTOR_DEBUG = bool(os.environ.get("CONSTRUCTOR_DEBUG"))
+CONSTRUCTOR_DEBUG = os.environ.get("CONSTRUCTOR_DEBUG", "").lower() in ("1", "true", "yes")
 if artifacts_path := os.environ.get("CONSTRUCTOR_EXAMPLES_KEEP_ARTIFACTS"):
     KEEP_ARTIFACTS_PATH = Path(artifacts_path)
     KEEP_ARTIFACTS_PATH.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
@@ -189,7 +189,10 @@ def _run_installer_sh(installer, install_dir, installer_input=None, timeout=420,
     if installer_input:
         cmd = ["/bin/sh", installer]
     else:
-        cmd = ["/bin/sh", installer, "-b", "-p", install_dir]
+        cmd = ["/bin/sh"]
+        if CONSTRUCTOR_DEBUG:
+            cmd.append("-x")
+        cmd += [installer, "-b", "-p", install_dir]
     return _execute(cmd, installer_input=installer_input, timeout=timeout, check=check)