diff --git a/dev/tests/functional/standalone_bootstrap.php b/dev/tests/functional/standalone_bootstrap.php
index 58030231d..5ce6f029a 100755
--- a/dev/tests/functional/standalone_bootstrap.php
+++ b/dev/tests/functional/standalone_bootstrap.php
@@ -70,10 +70,3 @@
 
 $RELATIVE_TESTS_MODULE_PATH = '/tests/functional/tests/MFTF';
 defined('TESTS_MODULE_PATH') || define('TESTS_MODULE_PATH', realpath(TESTS_BP . $RELATIVE_TESTS_MODULE_PATH));
-
-
-// add the debug flag here
-$debug_mode = $_ENV['MFTF_DEBUG'] ?? false;
-if (!(bool)$debug_mode && extension_loaded('xdebug')) {
-    xdebug_disable();
-}
diff --git a/src/Magento/FunctionalTestingFramework/Config/MftfApplicationConfig.php b/src/Magento/FunctionalTestingFramework/Config/MftfApplicationConfig.php
index ab06b5612..3aad73a06 100644
--- a/src/Magento/FunctionalTestingFramework/Config/MftfApplicationConfig.php
+++ b/src/Magento/FunctionalTestingFramework/Config/MftfApplicationConfig.php
@@ -100,17 +100,15 @@ private function __construct(
 
         $this->phase = $phase;
         $this->verboseEnabled = $verboseEnabled;
-        if (isset($debugLevel) && !in_array(strtolower($debugLevel), self::MFTF_DEBUG_LEVEL)) {
+        if (!in_array(strtolower($debugLevel), self::MFTF_DEBUG_LEVEL)) {
             throw new TestFrameworkException("{$debugLevel} is not a debug level. Use 'DEFAULT' or 'DEVELOPER'");
         }
         switch (strtolower($debugLevel)) {
-            case self::LEVEL_DEVELOPER:
             case self::LEVEL_DEFAULT:
-                $this->debugLevel = $debugLevel;
+                $this->debugLevel = self::LEVEL_DEFAULT;
                 break;
-            case null:
+            default:
                 $this->debugLevel = self::LEVEL_DEVELOPER;
-                break;
         }
         $this->allowSkipped = $allowSkipped;
         $this->filterList = new FilterList($filters);
@@ -196,7 +194,7 @@ public function verboseEnabled()
      */
     public function getDebugLevel()
     {
-        return $this->debugLevel ?? getenv('MFTF_DEBUG');
+        return $this->debugLevel;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/Magento/FunctionalTestingFramework/_bootstrap.php b/src/Magento/FunctionalTestingFramework/_bootstrap.php
index b655fb28e..9c13eaa54 100644
--- a/src/Magento/FunctionalTestingFramework/_bootstrap.php
+++ b/src/Magento/FunctionalTestingFramework/_bootstrap.php
@@ -74,9 +74,3 @@
     'TESTS_MODULE_PATH',
     realpath(TESTS_BP . $RELATIVE_TESTS_MODULE_PATH)
 );
-
-// add the debug flag here
-$debugMode = $_ENV['MFTF_DEBUG'] ?? false;
-if (!(bool)$debugMode && extension_loaded('xdebug')) {
-    xdebug_disable();
-}