diff --git a/lib/elevate.js b/lib/elevate.js
index b921ece0..a565f886 100644
--- a/lib/elevate.js
+++ b/lib/elevate.js
@@ -29,19 +29,26 @@ exports.require = function(app, applicationName, callback) {
     }
 
     return Bluebird.try(function() {
-      if (platform === 'darwin') {
 
-        // Keep parent process hidden
-        app.dock.hide();
+      // This environment variable is usually set
+      // for debugging purposes, or for power users
+      // that really know what they're doing.
+      if (!process.env.ETCHER_BYPASS_ELEVATION) {
 
-        return sudoPrompt.execAsync(process.argv.join(' '), {
-          name: applicationName
-        });
-      }
+        if (platform === 'darwin') {
 
-      if (platform === 'win32') {
-        const elevator = Bluebird.promisifyAll(require('elevator'));
-        return elevator.executeAsync(process.argv, {});
+          // Keep parent process hidden
+          app.dock.hide();
+
+          return sudoPrompt.execAsync(process.argv.join(' '), {
+            name: applicationName
+          });
+        }
+
+        if (platform === 'win32') {
+          const elevator = Bluebird.promisifyAll(require('elevator'));
+          return elevator.executeAsync(process.argv, {});
+        }
       }
 
       throw new Error('Please run this application as root or administrator');