diff --git a/sceptre/cli/helpers.py b/sceptre/cli/helpers.py
index b5749c529..fd82a2c16 100644
--- a/sceptre/cli/helpers.py
+++ b/sceptre/cli/helpers.py
@@ -27,16 +27,23 @@ def catch_exceptions(func):
         simplified.
     :returns: The decorated function.
     """
+    def logging_level():
+        logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+        return logger.getEffectiveLevel()
+
     @wraps(func)
     def decorated(*args, **kwargs):
         """
         Invokes ``func``, catches expected errors, prints the error message and
-        exits sceptre with a non-zero exit code.
+        exits sceptre with a non-zero exit code. In debug mode, the original
+        exception is re-raised to assist debugging.
         """
         try:
             return func(*args, **kwargs)
         except (SceptreException, BotoCoreError, ClientError, Boto3Error,
                 TemplateError) as error:
+            if logging_level() == logging.DEBUG:
+                raise
             write(error)
             sys.exit(1)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 1fe02ac21..e90aac5fe 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def teardown_method(self, test_method):
         self.patcher_StackActions.stop()
 
     @patch("sys.exit")
-    def test_catch_excecptions(self, mock_exit):
+    def test_catch_exceptions(self, mock_exit):
         @catch_exceptions
         def raises_exception():
             raise SceptreException()
@@ -64,6 +64,17 @@ def raises_exception():
         raises_exception()
         mock_exit.assert_called_once_with(1)
 
+    def test_catch_exceptions_debug_mode(self):
+        @catch_exceptions
+        def raises_exception():
+            raise SceptreException()
+
+        logger = logging.getLogger("sceptre")
+        logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+
+        with pytest.raises(SceptreException):
+            raises_exception()
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("command,files,output", [
         # one --var option
         (