diff --git a/sdks/hermes-engine/hermes-engine.podspec b/sdks/hermes-engine/hermes-engine.podspec
index 8ce70968419001..dda63e90c8a2ed 100644
--- a/sdks/hermes-engine/hermes-engine.podspec
+++ b/sdks/hermes-engine/hermes-engine.podspec
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ require_relative "./hermes-utils.rb"
 
 react_native_path = File.join(__dir__, "..", "..")
 
-# Always use release build of hermes.
-build_type = :release
+# Whether Hermes is built for Release or Debug is determined by the PRODUCTION envvar.
+build_type = ENV['PRODUCTION'] == "1" ? :release : :debug
 
 # package.json
 package = JSON.parse(File.read(File.join(react_native_path, "package.json")))