diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 6b95eed617f..216afd8b573 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@
 			"env": {
 				"VSCODE_EXTHOST_WILL_SEND_SOCKET": null,
 				"VSCODE_SKIP_PRELAUNCH": "1",
+				"VSCODE_DEV_DEBUG_OBSERVABLES": "1",
 			},
 			"cleanUp": "wholeBrowser",
 			"killBehavior": "polite",
@@ -297,6 +298,7 @@
 				"VSCODE_EXTHOST_WILL_SEND_SOCKET": null,
 				"VSCODE_SKIP_PRELAUNCH": "1",
 				"VSCODE_DEV_DEBUG": "1",
+				"VSCODE_DEV_DEBUG_OBSERVABLES": "1",
 			},
 			"cleanUp": "wholeBrowser",
 			"runtimeArgs": [
diff --git a/src/vs/base/common/observableInternal/index.ts b/src/vs/base/common/observableInternal/index.ts
index a372b4a6acd..50540a9af91 100644
--- a/src/vs/base/common/observableInternal/index.ts
+++ b/src/vs/base/common/observableInternal/index.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ if (enableLogging) {
 	addLogger(new ConsoleObservableLogger());
 }
 
-if (env && env['VSCODE_DEV_DEBUG']) {
+if (env && env['VSCODE_DEV_DEBUG_OBSERVABLES']) {
 	// To debug observables you also need the extension "ms-vscode.debug-value-editor"
 	addLogger(DevToolsLogger.getInstance());
 }