diff --git a/dask_sql/java.py b/dask_sql/java.py
index f4084e7c7..adbbc50a9 100644
--- a/dask_sql/java.py
+++ b/dask_sql/java.py
@@ -70,13 +70,25 @@ def _set_or_check_java_home():
 jvmpath = jvmpath.replace("\\bin\\bin\\server\\jvm.dll", "\\bin\\server\\jvm.dll")
 
 logger.debug(f"Starting JVM from path {jvmpath}...")
-jpype.startJVM(
+jvmArgs = [
     "-ea",
     "--illegal-access=deny",
-    ignoreUnrecognized=True,
-    convertStrings=False,
-    jvmpath=jvmpath,
+]
+
+if "DASK_SQL_JVM_DEBUG_ENABLED" in os.environ:  # pragma: no cover
+    logger.debug(
+        "Remote JVM debugging enabled. Application will wait for remote debugger to attach"
+    )
+    # Must be the first argument in the JVM args
+    jvmArgs.insert(
+        0, "-agentlib:jdwp=transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=8000"
+    )
+
+logger.debug(f"Starting JVM from path {jvmpath}...")
+jpype.startJVM(
+    *jvmArgs, ignoreUnrecognized=True, convertStrings=False, jvmpath=jvmpath,
 )
+
 logger.debug("...having started JVM")