diff --git a/pkg/test/istioio/script.go b/pkg/test/istioio/script.go
index 5045f531bc..17bc8dd2f8 100644
--- a/pkg/test/istioio/script.go
+++ b/pkg/test/istioio/script.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	testOutputDirEnvVar = "TEST_OUTPUT_DIR"
+	testDebugFile       = "TEST_DEBUG_FILE"
 	kubeConfigEnvVar    = "KUBECONFIG"
 )
 
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ var _ Step = Script{}
 //         Set to the working directory of the current test. By default, scripts are run from this
 //         directory. This variable is useful for cases where the execution `WorkDir` has been set,
 //         but the script needs to access files in the test working directory.
+//     - TEST_DEBUG_FILE:
+//         Set to the file where debugging output will be written.
 //     - KUBECONFIG:
 //         Set to the value from the test framework. This is necessary to make kubectl commands execute
 //         with the configuration specified on the command line.
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ func (s Script) run(ctx Context) {
 
 	// Generate the body of the command.
 	commandLines := []string{"source ${REPO_ROOT}/tests/util/verify.sh"}
+	commandLines = append(commandLines, "source ${REPO_ROOT}/tests/util/debug.sh")
 	lines := strings.Split(content, "\n")
 	for index := 0; index < len(lines); index++ {
 		commandLines = append(commandLines, lines[index])
@@ -96,7 +100,7 @@ func (s Script) run(ctx Context) {
 	// Create the command.
 	cmd := exec.Command(shell)
 	cmd.Dir = s.getWorkDir(ctx)
-	cmd.Env = s.getEnv(ctx)
+	cmd.Env = s.getEnv(ctx, fileName)
 	cmd.Stdin = strings.NewReader(command)
 
 	// Run the command and get the output.
@@ -121,7 +125,7 @@ func (s Script) getWorkDir(ctx Context) string {
 	return ctx.WorkDir()
 }
 
-func (s Script) getEnv(ctx Context) []string {
+func (s Script) getEnv(ctx Context, fileName string) []string {
 	// Start with the environment for the current process.
 	e := os.Environ()
 
@@ -130,6 +134,7 @@ func (s Script) getEnv(ctx Context) []string {
 		// Set the output dir for the test.
 		testOutputDirEnvVar: ctx.WorkDir(),
 	}
+	customVars[testDebugFile] = fileName + "_debug.txt"
 	ctx.Environment().Case(environment.Kube, func() {
 		customVars[kubeConfigEnvVar] = ctx.KubeEnv().Settings().KubeConfig[0]
 	})
diff --git a/tests/util/debug.sh b/tests/util/debug.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c0a4864216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/util/debug.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Copyright Istio Authors
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+exec 5> "${TEST_DEBUG_FILE}"
+BASH_XTRACEFD="5"
+export PS4='+${FUNCNAME[0]:+${FUNCNAME[0]}(): }'
+set -x