diff --git a/nbactions.xml b/nbactions.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36fc24d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nbactions.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<actions>
+        <action>
+            <actionName>run</actionName>
+            <packagings>
+                <packaging>jar</packaging>
+            </packagings>
+            <goals>
+                <goal>process-classes</goal>
+                <goal>exec:exec</goal>
+            </goals>
+        </action>
+        <action>
+            <actionName>debug</actionName>
+            <packagings>
+                <packaging>jar</packaging>
+            </packagings>
+            <goals>
+                <goal>process-classes</goal>
+                <goal>exec:exec</goal>
+            </goals>
+            <properties>
+                <debug.args>-agentlib:jdwp=transport=dt_socket,server=n,address=${jpda.address}</debug.args>
+                <jpda.listen>true</jpda.listen>
+            </properties>
+        </action>
+    </actions>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 1dfb82e..c171c0d 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     <properties>
         <graalvm.version>1.0.0-rc9</graalvm.version>
         <compiler.dir>${project.build.directory}/compiler</compiler.dir>
+        <debug.args>-Dignore</debug.args> <!-- to take debug.args into account -->
     </properties>
     <profiles>
         <profile>
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@
                                         <argument>-classpath</argument>
                                         <!-- automatically creates the classpath using all project dependencies, also adding the project build directory -->
                                         <classpath/>
+                                        <argument>${debug.args}</argument>
                                         <argument>-XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions</argument>
                                         <argument>-XX:+EnableJVMCI</argument>
                                         <argument>--upgrade-module-path=${compiler.dir}/compiler.jar</argument>
@@ -205,6 +207,7 @@
                                     <arguments>
                                         <argument>-classpath</argument>
                                         <classpath/>
+                                        <argument>${debug.args}</argument>
                                         <argument>com.mycompany.app.App</argument>
                                     </arguments>
                                 </configuration>
@@ -249,6 +252,7 @@
                                 <argument>-classpath</argument>
                                 <!-- automatically creates the classpath using all project dependencies, also adding the project build directory -->
                                 <classpath/>
+                                <argument>${debug.args}</argument>
                             </arguments>
                         </configuration>
                     </execution>