diff --git a/Installation/cmake/modules/CGAL_Common.cmake b/Installation/cmake/modules/CGAL_Common.cmake
index 9da7a3fa9af..9ade617f663 100644
--- a/Installation/cmake/modules/CGAL_Common.cmake
+++ b/Installation/cmake/modules/CGAL_Common.cmake
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/CGAL_Macros.cmake)
 
 option(CGAL_DEV_MODE
   "Activate the CGAL developers mode. See https://github.com/CGAL/cgal/wiki/CGAL_DEV_MODE"
-  FALSE)
+  $ENV{CGAL_DEV_MODE})
 
 if(RUNNING_CGAL_AUTO_TEST)
 # Just to avoid a warning from CMake if that variable is set on the command line...