diff --git a/.changeset/fix-shadow-piercer-debug.md b/.changeset/fix-shadow-piercer-debug.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..914599d5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix-shadow-piercer-debug.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@browserbasehq/stagehand": patch
+---
+
+Respect `opts.debug` in `installV3ShadowPiercer` instead of hardcoding `DEBUG = true`
diff --git a/packages/core/lib/v3/dom/piercer.runtime.ts b/packages/core/lib/v3/dom/piercer.runtime.ts
index 56db4e9a7..975eb51b5 100644
--- a/packages/core/lib/v3/dom/piercer.runtime.ts
+++ b/packages/core/lib/v3/dom/piercer.runtime.ts
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ declare global {
 }
 
 export function installV3ShadowPiercer(opts: V3ShadowPatchOptions = {}): void {
-  // hardcoded debug (remove later if desired)
-  const DEBUG = true;
+  const DEBUG = opts.debug ?? false;
 
   type PatchedFn = Element["attachShadow"] & {
     __v3Patched?: boolean;