diff --git a/config/settings/container/production.py b/config/settings/container/production.py
index 9c390c4fa990aee993d222b1a4befd43c54181d6..cfd5968249f92bab657413953205fd9230388d14 100644
--- a/config/settings/container/production.py
+++ b/config/settings/container/production.py
@@ -7,3 +7,7 @@ DEBUG = False
 SEND_XMPP_ALERTS = True
 SEND_PHONE_ALERTS = True
 SEND_EMAIL_ALERTS = True
+
+# Safety check on debug mode for production
+if (DEBUG == True):
+    raise RuntimeError("Turn off debug mode for production")
diff --git a/config/settings/vm/playground.py b/config/settings/vm/playground.py
index b2cf7dc85998c0c5eb96d6781325070d51c1bed4..cc37692df647311eef7d873aa6ccf21dd70fc7b7 100644
--- a/config/settings/vm/playground.py
+++ b/config/settings/vm/playground.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # Settings for a playground GraceDB instance (for user testing) running
 # on a VM with Puppet provisioning. Starts with vm.py settings (which inherits
 # from base.py settings) and overrides or adds to them.
-import textwrap
 from .base import *
 
 CONFIG_NAME = "USER TESTING"
@@ -48,3 +47,7 @@ A nightly cron job removes events older than 14 days.</li>
 <b>112</b>.</li>
 </ul>
 """
+
+# Safety check on debug mode for playground
+if (DEBUG == True):
+    raise RuntimeError("Turn off debug mode for playground")
diff --git a/config/settings/vm/production.py b/config/settings/vm/production.py
index b30c9859010c4636f12fdce1236557571102e6ac..6558b94ccc2b9265107b8eeb6c0275a708062f3b 100644
--- a/config/settings/vm/production.py
+++ b/config/settings/vm/production.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 # settings) and overrides or adds to them.
 from .base import *
 
+DEBUG = False
+
 # LVAlert Overseer settings
 LVALERT_OVERSEER_INSTANCES = [
     {
@@ -15,3 +17,7 @@ LVALERT_OVERSEER_INSTANCES = [
 SEND_XMPP_ALERTS = True
 SEND_PHONE_ALERTS = True
 SEND_EMAIL_ALERTS = True
+
+# Safety check on debug mode for production
+if (DEBUG == True):
+    raise RuntimeError("Turn off debug mode for production")