diff --git a/ci/release/changelogs/next.md b/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
index e71dbb04e7..1c4a18e217 100644
--- a/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
+++ b/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 - Tooltip and link icons are now positioned on shape border [#1466](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/1466)
 - Tooltip and link icons are always rendered over shapes [#1467](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/1467)
 - Boards with no objects are considered folders [#1504](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/1504)
+- `DEBUG` environment variable ignored if set incorrectly [#1505](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/1505)
 
 #### Bugfixes ⛑️
 
diff --git a/d2cli/main.go b/d2cli/main.go
index 0f0e8167bd..635a5e440e 100644
--- a/d2cli/main.go
+++ b/d2cli/main.go
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State) (err error) {
 	}
 	debugFlag, err := ms.Opts.Bool("DEBUG", "debug", "d", false, "print debug logs.")
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		ms.Log.Warn.Printf("Invalid DEBUG flag value ignored")
+		debugFlag = go2.Pointer(false)
 	}
 	imgCacheFlag, err := ms.Opts.Bool("IMG_CACHE", "img-cache", "", true, "in watch mode, images used in icons are cached for subsequent compilations. This should be disabled if images might change.")
 	if err != nil {