diff --git a/samcli/local/docker/lambda_debug_settings.py b/samcli/local/docker/lambda_debug_settings.py
index b59a1d1a04..0f761331d6 100644
--- a/samcli/local/docker/lambda_debug_settings.py
+++ b/samcli/local/docker/lambda_debug_settings.py
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ def get_debug_settings(debug_port, debug_args_list, _container_env_vars, runtime
                 container_env_vars={
                     "NODE_PATH": "/opt/nodejs/node_modules:/opt/nodejs/node10/node_modules:/var/runtime/node_module",
                     "NODE_OPTIONS": f"--inspect-brk=0.0.0.0:{str(debug_port)} --max-http-header-size 81920",
+                    "AWS_EXECUTION_ENV": "AWS_Lambda_nodejs10.x",
                     **_container_env_vars,
                 },
             ),
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@ def get_debug_settings(debug_port, debug_args_list, _container_env_vars, runtime
                 container_env_vars={
                     "NODE_PATH": "/opt/nodejs/node_modules:/opt/nodejs/node12/node_modules:/var/runtime/node_module",
                     "NODE_OPTIONS": f"--inspect-brk=0.0.0.0:{str(debug_port)} --max-http-header-size 81920",
+                    "AWS_EXECUTION_ENV": "AWS_Lambda_nodejs12.x",
                     **_container_env_vars,
                 },
             ),