diff --git a/searx/webapp.py b/searx/webapp.py
index cc5fdb927..4ecaab7d2 100755
--- a/searx/webapp.py
+++ b/searx/webapp.py
@@ -1383,6 +1383,11 @@ def is_werkzeug_reload_active() -> bool:
         if "--reload" in sys.argv or "--debug" in sys.argv:
             return True
 
+    elif frames[0].filename.endswith('searx/webapp.py'):
+        # server was launched by "python -m searx.webapp" / see run()
+        if searx.sxng_debug:
+            return True
+
     return False