diff --git a/conda/cli/conda_argparse.py b/conda/cli/conda_argparse.py
index 415572c35a4..e6bf6b3d937 100644
--- a/conda/cli/conda_argparse.py
+++ b/conda/cli/conda_argparse.py
@@ -73,11 +73,13 @@ def generate_pre_parser(**kwargs) -> ArgumentParser:
     pre_parser.add_argument(
         "--debug",
         action="store_true",
+        default=NULL,
         help=SUPPRESS,
     )
     pre_parser.add_argument(
         "--json",
         action="store_true",
+        default=NULL,
         help=SUPPRESS,
     )
     pre_parser.add_argument(
diff --git a/news/12988-CONDA_JSON b/news/12988-CONDA_JSON
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7ca5ff44003
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/12988-CONDA_JSON
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* Default `--json` and `--debug` to `NULL` so as to not overriding `CONDA_JSON` and `CONDA_DEBUG` environment variables. (#12987)
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Docs
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Other
+
+* <news item>