diff --git a/commands.go b/commands.go
index 4304ea8..d4f6c1b 100644
--- a/commands.go
+++ b/commands.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ type Command struct {
 	help    string
 	handler func(*Connection, ...string)
 	mobile  bool
+	debug   bool // marks command as a debug mode command
 }
 
 var infoCommand = &Command{
@@ -188,8 +189,9 @@ var colonizeCommand = &Command{
 }
 
 var winCommand = &Command{
-	name: "win",
-	help: "win the game.",
+	name:  "win",
+	help:  "win the game.",
+	debug: true,
 	handler: func(conn *Connection, args ...string) {
 		conn.Win("win-command")
 	},
@@ -271,10 +273,18 @@ func runCommand(conn *Connection, name string, args ...string) {
 }
 
 func registerCommand(c *Command) {
-	commandRegistry[c.name] = c
+	if c.debug {
+		if options.debug {
+			commandRegistry[c.name] = c
+			log_info("registered debug command: %s", c.name)
+		}
+	} else {
+		commandRegistry[c.name] = c
+		log_info("registered command: %s", c.name)
+	}
 }
 
-func init() {
+func setupCommands() {
 	commandRegistry = make(map[string]*Command, 16)
 	registerCommand(bombCommand)
 	registerCommand(broadcastCommand)
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 1b4e436..9ef9287 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ var options struct {
 	playerSpeed float64
 	bombSpeed   float64
 	economic    int
+	debug       bool
 }
 
 var (
@@ -90,11 +91,13 @@ func handleConnection(conn *Connection) {
 func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 	dbconnect()
+
 	rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())
 	info_log = log.New(os.Stdout, "[INFO] ", 0)
 	error_log = log.New(os.Stderr, "[ERROR] ", 0)
 
 	setupDb()
+	setupCommands()
 	listener, err := net.Listen("tcp", ":9220")
 	if err != nil {
 		bail(E_No_Port, "unable to start server: %v", err)
@@ -121,4 +124,5 @@ func init() {
 	flag.IntVar(&options.economic, "economic", 25000, "amount of money needed to win economic victory")
 	flag.Float64Var(&options.moneyMean, "money-mean", 10000, "mean amount of money on a system")
 	flag.Float64Var(&options.moneySigma, "money-sigma", 1500, "standard deviation in money per system")
+	flag.BoolVar(&options.debug, "debug", false, "puts the game in debug mode")
 }