diff --git a/halfapi/lib/jwt_middleware.py b/halfapi/lib/jwt_middleware.py
index 1d8d91c..ecbf319 100644
--- a/halfapi/lib/jwt_middleware.py
+++ b/halfapi/lib/jwt_middleware.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     logger.warning('Could not import PRODUCTION variable from conf module,'\
         ' using HALFAPI_PROD environment variable')
-    PRODUCTION = environ.get('HALFAPI_PROD') or False
+    PRODUCTION = bool(environ.get('HALFAPI_PROD', False))
 
 try:
     from ..conf import SECRET
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class JWTAuthenticationBackend(AuthenticationBackend):
                 algorithms=self.algorithm,
                 verify=True)
 
-            if PRODUCTION and 'debug' in payload.keys():
+            if PRODUCTION and 'debug' in payload.keys() and payload['debug']:
                 raise AuthenticationError(
                     'Trying to connect using *DEBUG* token in *PRODUCTION* mode')
 
diff --git a/tests/test_jwt_middleware.py b/tests/test_jwt_middleware.py
index ac70551..b5f81ee 100644
--- a/tests/test_jwt_middleware.py
+++ b/tests/test_jwt_middleware.py
@@ -58,6 +58,27 @@ def token_builder():
         key=SECRET
     )
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def token_debug_false_builder():
+    yield jwt.encode({
+        'name':'xxx',
+        'id': str(uuid4()),
+        'debug': False},
+        key=SECRET
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def token_debug_true_builder():
+    yield jwt.encode({
+        'name':'xxx',
+        'id': str(uuid4()),
+        'debug': True},
+        key=SECRET
+    )
+
+
+
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def token_dirser():
@@ -142,3 +163,34 @@ async def test_JWTAuthenticationBackend(token_builder):
     credentials, user = await backend.authenticate(req)
     assert type(user) == JWTUser
     assert type(credentials) == AuthCredentials
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_JWTAuthenticationBackend_DebugFalse(token_debug_false_builder):
+    backend = JWTAuthenticationBackend()
+    assert backend.secret_key == SECRET
+
+    req = Request(
+        headers={
+            'Authorization': token_debug_false_builder
+        })
+
+    credentials, user = await backend.authenticate(req)
+    assert type(user) == JWTUser
+    assert type(credentials) == AuthCredentials
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_JWTAuthenticationBackend_DebugTrue(token_debug_true_builder):
+    backend = JWTAuthenticationBackend()
+    assert backend.secret_key == SECRET
+
+    req = Request(
+        headers={
+            'Authorization': token_debug_true_builder
+        })
+
+    try:
+        await backend.authenticate(req)
+    except Exception as e:
+        assert type(e) == AuthenticationError