diff --git a/tractor/_supervise.py b/tractor/_supervise.py
index 009359c..c6b1c5b 100644
--- a/tractor/_supervise.py
+++ b/tractor/_supervise.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class ActorNursery:
         loglevel: str = None,  # set log level per subactor
         nursery: trio.Nursery = None,
         infect_asyncio: bool = False,
+        debug_mode: Optional[bool] = None,
     ) -> Portal:
         loglevel = loglevel or self._actor.loglevel or get_loglevel()
 
@@ -70,6 +71,10 @@ class ActorNursery:
         _rtv = _state._runtime_vars.copy()
         _rtv['_is_root'] = False
 
+        # allow setting debug policy per actor
+        if debug_mode is not None:
+            _rtv['_debug_mode'] = debug_mode
+
         enable_modules = enable_modules or []
 
         if rpc_module_paths: