diff --git a/helm.mk b/helm.mk
index e4f08da..777ef55 100644
--- a/helm.mk
+++ b/helm.mk
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ start-helm:
 	@- echo "\n### setting kubernetes context to $(K8S_CONTEXT)"
 	@ kubectl config use-context $(K8S_CONTEXT)
 
+ifdef TEST_MODE
+	@- echo "Testing chart with 'helm template --debug'"
+    @ envsubst < ${HELM_VALUES_FILE} | helm template ${HELM_CHART_NAME} ${HELM_CHART_PATH} --debug --values -
+endif
+
 	@- echo "\n### deploying helm chart"
 	@- echo "-- DEPLOYMENT --------------------"
 	@- echo " "
@@ -20,5 +25,7 @@ start-helm:
 	@ envsubst < $(HELM_VALUES_FILE) | helm upgrade $(HELM_CHART_NAME) $(HELM_CHART_PATH) -n $(NAMESPACE)  --install --wait --values -
 
 
+
+
 pull-helm:
 # nop