diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 97e954da..3fcbf5f7 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ jobs:
           CREATE_IMAGE: 1
           USE_IMAGE: 1
           IMAGE_NAME: centos-cloud/centos-7
+          WKP_DEBUG: true
     working_directory: /src/github.com/weaveworks/wksctl
     steps:
       - checkout
@@ -269,6 +270,7 @@ jobs:
           CREATE_IMAGE: 1
           USE_IMAGE: 1
           IMAGE_NAME: rhel-cloud/rhel-7
+          WKP_DEBUG: false
     working_directory: /src/github.com/weaveworks/wksctl
     steps:
       - checkout
diff --git a/test/integration/test/apply_test.go b/test/integration/test/apply_test.go
index 5b75bab7..9188e786 100644
--- a/test/integration/test/apply_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/test/apply_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -434,7 +435,15 @@ func TestApply(t *testing.T) {
 	}()
 
 	// Install the Cluster.
-	var verbose = "${DEBUG_LOGGING:-false}"
+	var verbose bool
+	val := os.Getenv("WKP_DEBUG")
+	if val != "" {
+		verbose, err = strconv.ParseBool(val)
+		assert.NoErrorf(t, err, "unexpected error parsing boolean: %s\n", err.Error())
+	} else {
+		verbose = false
+	}
+
 	run, err := apply(exe, "--cluster="+clusterManifestPath, "--machines="+machinesManifestPath, "--namespace=default",
 		"--config-directory="+configDir, "--sealed-secret-key="+configPath("ss.key"), "--sealed-secret-cert="+configPath("ss.cert"),
 		fmt.Sprintf("--verbose=%s", verbose), "--ssh-key="+sshKeyPath)