diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ExtensionDiscovery.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ExtensionDiscovery.php
index 0d9742994c21bb228933ca931847862bf963cc57..c0f4a194b8ac1a2af7eebfbf1a8df7969a06bbe9 100644
--- a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ExtensionDiscovery.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/ExtensionDiscovery.php
@@ -140,8 +140,10 @@ public function scan($type, $include_tests = NULL) {
 
     // Unless an explicit value has been passed, manually check whether we are
     // in a test environment, in which case test extensions must be included.
+    // Test extensions can also be included for debugging purposes by setting a
+    // variable in settings.php.
     if (!isset($include_tests)) {
-      $include_tests = (bool) drupal_valid_test_ua();
+      $include_tests = drupal_valid_test_ua() || Settings::get('extension_discovery_scan_tests');
     }
 
     $files = array();