diff --git a/packages/generator-langium/langium-template/src/extension.ts b/packages/generator-langium/langium-template/src/extension.ts
index 375126c5a..001de7a7f 100644
--- a/packages/generator-langium/langium-template/src/extension.ts
+++ b/packages/generator-langium/langium-template/src/extension.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ export function deactivate(): Thenable<void> | undefined {
 function startLanguageClient(context: vscode.ExtensionContext): LanguageClient {
     const serverModule = context.asAbsolutePath(path.join('out', 'language-server', 'main'));
     // The debug options for the server
-    // --inspect=6009: runs the server in Node's Inspector mode so VS Code can attach to the server for debugging
-    const debugOptions = { execArgv: ['--nolazy', '--inspect=6009'] };
+    // --inspect=6009: runs the server in Node's Inspector mode so VS Code can attach to the server for debugging.
+    // By setting `process.env.DEBUG_BREAK` to a truthy value, the language server will wait until a debugger is attached.
+    const debugOptions = { execArgv: ['--nolazy', `--inspect${process.env.DEBUG_BREAK ? '-brk' : ''}=${process.env.DEBUG_SOCKET || '6009'}`] };
 
     // If the extension is launched in debug mode then the debug server options are used
     // Otherwise the run options are used
diff --git a/packages/langium-vscode/src/extension.ts b/packages/langium-vscode/src/extension.ts
index 3afcb8898..c292e6e7b 100644
--- a/packages/langium-vscode/src/extension.ts
+++ b/packages/langium-vscode/src/extension.ts
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ export function deactivate(): Thenable<void> | undefined {
 function startLanguageClient(context: vscode.ExtensionContext): LanguageClient {
     const serverModule = context.asAbsolutePath(path.join('out', 'language-server', 'main'));
 	// The debug options for the server
-	// --inspect=6009: runs the server in Node's Inspector mode so VS Code can attach to the server for debugging
-	const debugOptions = { execArgv: ['--nolazy', '--inspect=6009'] };
+	// --inspect=6009: runs the server in Node's Inspector mode so VS Code can attach to the server for debugging.
+	// By setting `process.env.DEBUG_BREAK` to a truthy value, the language server will wait until a debugger is attached.
+    const debugOptions = { execArgv: ['--nolazy', `--inspect${process.env.DEBUG_BREAK ? '-brk' : ''}=${process.env.DEBUG_SOCKET || '6009'}`] };
 
 	// If the extension is launched in debug mode then the debug server options are used
 	// Otherwise the run options are used