diff --git a/pyModeS/extra/tcpclient.py b/pyModeS/extra/tcpclient.py
index 22539b6..e8d15d0 100644
--- a/pyModeS/extra/tcpclient.py
+++ b/pyModeS/extra/tcpclient.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import sys
 import socket
 import time
 from threading import Thread
+import traceback
 
 if (sys.version_info > (3, 0)):
     PY_VERSION = 3
@@ -269,7 +270,16 @@ class BaseClient(Thread):
 
                 time.sleep(0.001)
             except Exception as e:
-                print("Unexpected Error:", e)
+
+                # Provides the user an option to supply the environment 
+                # variable PYMODES_DEBUG to halt the execution
+                # for debugging purposes
+                debug_intent = os.environ.get('PYMODES_DEBUG', None)
+                if debug_intent.lower() == 'true':
+                    traceback.print_exc()
+                    sys.exit()
+                else:
+                    print("Unexpected Error:", e)
 
                 try:
                     sock = self.connect()