diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bfbc31c5d..e80fb8af1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 - Adds a development container for Visual Studio Code. [GH-700](https://github.com/vmware-samples/packer-examples-for-vsphere/pull/700)
 - Adds an example `.gitlab.yml` file for GitLab CI/CD. [GH-675](https://github.com/vmware-samples/packer-examples-for-vsphere/pull/675)
 - Adds a `build-ci.tmpl` that can be used to create or update the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file using gomplate. [GH-675](https://github.com/vmware-samples/packer-examples-for-vsphere/pull/675)
+- Adds a `--debug` option to `./build.sh` to enable debug logging for Packer.
 
 :bug: **Bugfix**:
 
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index e41948067..1a041ca4d 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,20 @@ follow_link() {
 }
 
 SCRIPT_PATH=$(realpath "$(dirname "$(follow_link "$0")")")
-CONFIG_PATH=$(realpath "${1:-${SCRIPT_PATH}/config}")
+debug=false
+
+if [ "$1" == "--debug" ]
+then
+  debug=true
+  shift
+fi
+
+if [ -n "$1" ]
+then
+  CONFIG_PATH=$(realpath "$1")
+else
+  CONFIG_PATH=$(realpath "${SCRIPT_PATH}/config")
+fi
 
 menu_option_1() {
   INPUT_PATH="$SCRIPT_PATH"/builds/linux/photon/5/
@@ -38,7 +51,12 @@ menu_option_1() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -69,7 +87,12 @@ menu_option_2() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -100,7 +123,12 @@ menu_option_3() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -131,7 +159,12 @@ menu_option_4() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -162,7 +195,12 @@ menu_option_5() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -193,7 +231,12 @@ menu_option_6() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -224,7 +267,12 @@ menu_option_7() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -256,7 +304,12 @@ menu_option_8() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -288,7 +341,12 @@ menu_option_9() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -320,7 +378,12 @@ menu_option_10() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -351,7 +414,12 @@ menu_option_11() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -382,7 +450,12 @@ menu_option_12() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -413,7 +486,12 @@ menu_option_13() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -444,7 +522,12 @@ menu_option_14() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -475,7 +558,12 @@ menu_option_15() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -506,7 +594,12 @@ menu_option_16() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -537,7 +630,12 @@ menu_option_17() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -569,7 +667,12 @@ menu_option_18() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -600,7 +703,12 @@ menu_option_19() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/ansible.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -632,7 +740,12 @@ menu_option_20() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/common.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -661,7 +774,12 @@ menu_option_21() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       --only vsphere-iso.windows-server-standard-dexp,vsphere-iso.windows-server-standard-core \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -691,7 +809,12 @@ menu_option_22() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       --only vsphere-iso.windows-server-datacenter-dexp,vsphere-iso.windows-server-datacenter-core \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -721,7 +844,12 @@ menu_option_23() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/common.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -750,7 +878,12 @@ menu_option_24() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       --only vsphere-iso.windows-server-standard-dexp,vsphere-iso.windows-server-standard-core \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -780,7 +913,12 @@ menu_option_25() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       --only vsphere-iso.windows-server-datacenter-dexp,vsphere-iso.windows-server-datacenter-core \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -810,7 +948,12 @@ menu_option_26() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/common.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -839,7 +982,12 @@ menu_option_27() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       --only vsphere-iso.windows-desktop-ent \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -869,7 +1017,12 @@ menu_option_28() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       --only vsphere-iso.windows-desktop-pro \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -899,7 +1052,12 @@ menu_option_29() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/common.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -928,7 +1086,12 @@ menu_option_30() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       --only vsphere-iso.windows-desktop-ent \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -958,7 +1121,12 @@ menu_option_31() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
       --only vsphere-iso.windows-desktop-pro \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/vsphere.pkrvars.hcl" \
       -var-file="$CONFIG_PATH/build.pkrvars.hcl" \
@@ -997,8 +1165,12 @@ until [ "$selection" = "0" ]; do
   echo " / ____/ /_/ / /__/ ,< /  __/ /     / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ (__  )  "
   echo "/_/    \__,_/\___/_/|_|\___/_/     /_____/\__,_/_/_/\__,_/____/   "
   echo ""
-  echo -n "  Select a HashiCorp Packer build for VMware vSphere:"
-  echo ""
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+    then
+      echo -e "\e[31m  Select a HashiCorp Packer build for VMware vSphere (debug mode): \e[0m"
+  else
+      echo "  Select a HashiCorp Packer build for VMware vSphere:"
+  fi
   echo ""
   echo "      Linux Distribution:"
   echo ""
diff --git a/build.tmpl b/build.tmpl
index 46f30c3ac..b45c19881 100644
--- a/build.tmpl
+++ b/build.tmpl
@@ -17,7 +17,20 @@ follow_link() {
 }
 
 SCRIPT_PATH=$(realpath "$(dirname "$(follow_link "$0")")")
-CONFIG_PATH=$(realpath "${1:-${SCRIPT_PATH}/config}")
+debug=false
+
+if [ "$1" == "--debug" ]
+then
+  debug=true
+  shift
+fi
+
+if [ -n "$1" ]
+then
+  CONFIG_PATH=$(realpath "$1")
+else
+  CONFIG_PATH=$(realpath "${SCRIPT_PATH}/config")
+fi
 
 {{- $func_index := 0 }}
 {{ range $menu := (ds "build").menu -}}
@@ -48,7 +61,12 @@ menu_option_{{ $func_index }}() {
 
   ### Start the Build. ###
   echo "Starting the build...."
-  packer build -force \
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+  then
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask -debug "$INPUT_PATH"
+  else
+    packer build -force -on-error=ask "$INPUT_PATH"
+  fi
   {{- if (coll.Has $submenu.build "only") }}
       --only {{ join $submenu.build.only "," }} \
   {{- end -}}
@@ -98,8 +116,12 @@ until [ "$selection" = "0" ]; do
   echo " / ____/ /_/ / /__/ ,< /  __/ /     / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ (__  )  "
   echo "/_/    \__,_/\___/_/|_|\___/_/     /_____/\__,_/_/_/\__,_/____/   "
   echo ""
-  echo -n "  Select a HashiCorp Packer build for VMware vSphere:"
-  echo ""
+  if [ "$debug" = true ]
+    then
+      echo -e "\e[31m  Select a HashiCorp Packer build for VMware vSphere (debug mode): \e[0m"
+  else
+      echo "  Select a HashiCorp Packer build for VMware vSphere:"
+  fi
   echo ""
 {{- $menu_index := 0 }}
 {{- range $menu := (ds "build").menu }}