diff --git a/docs/changelog/96.bugfix.rst b/docs/changelog/96.bugfix.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c6020a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/96.bugfix.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Parse the debug build flag in interpreter specs - ``python3.13d`` and Debian's ``python3.13-dbg`` /
+``python3.13-debug`` now select a ``Py_DEBUG`` interpreter instead of being misread as an ISA named ``dbg``.
+Resolving a virtualenv to its base interpreter also checks the free-threaded and debug ABI flags, so a debug or
+free-threaded environment no longer resolves to a release build of the same version - by :user:`gaborbernat`.
diff --git a/docs/explanation.rst b/docs/explanation.rst
index e35300c..4dd47bb 100644
--- a/docs/explanation.rst
+++ b/docs/explanation.rst
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ when encountering problematic interpreters.
 Spec format reference
 -----------------------
 
-A spec string follows the pattern ``[impl][version][t][-arch][-machine]``. Every part is optional.
+A spec string follows the pattern ``[impl][version][t][d][-arch][-machine]``. Every part is optional.
 
 .. mermaid::
 
@@ -221,12 +221,14 @@ A spec string follows the pattern ``[impl][version][t][-arch][-machine]``. Every
         Spec["Spec string"] --> Impl["impl<br>(optional)"]
         Impl --> Version["version<br>(optional)"]
         Version --> T["t<br>(optional)"]
-        T --> Arch["-arch<br>(optional)"]
+        T --> D["d / -dbg / -debug<br>(optional)"]
+        D --> Arch["-arch<br>(optional)"]
         Arch --> Machine["-machine<br>(optional)"]
 
         style Impl fill:#4a90d9,stroke:#2a5f8f,color:#fff
         style Version fill:#4a9f4a,stroke:#2a6f2a,color:#fff
         style T fill:#d9904a,stroke:#8f5f2a,color:#fff
+        style D fill:#4ad9c4,stroke:#2a8f7f,color:#fff
         style Arch fill:#d94a4a,stroke:#8f2a2a,color:#fff
         style Machine fill:#904ad9,stroke:#5f2a8f,color:#fff
 
@@ -237,9 +239,17 @@ A spec string follows the pattern ``[impl][version][t][-arch][-machine]``. Every
 - **version** -- dotted version number (``3``, ``3.12``, or ``3.12.1``). You can also write
   ``312`` as shorthand for ``3.12``.
 - **t** -- appended directly after the version. Matches free-threaded (no-GIL) builds only.
+- **d** -- require a debug (``Py_DEBUG``) build. Written as ``d`` right after the version (the ABI flag
+  form, as in ``python3.13d``) or as Debian's ``-dbg`` / ``-debug`` suffix (``python3.13-dbg``). When
+  omitted the build type is unconstrained.
 - **-arch** -- ``-32`` or ``-64`` for 32-bit or 64-bit interpreters.
 - **-machine** -- the CPU instruction set: ``-arm64``, ``-x86_64``, ``-aarch64``, ``-riscv64``, etc.
 
+Order matters: the parts appear in the sequence shown above. Combine the ABI flags as ``python3.13td``
+(free-threaded then debug, the order CPython uses in ``sys.abiflags``), and keep ``-arch`` before
+``-machine`` as in ``python3.13d-64-arm64``. Mixing ``d`` with ``-dbg`` in one spec, or swapping the arch
+and machine segments, leaves the string unrecognized, so it falls back to a literal executable-name match.
+
 **Full examples:**
 
 .. list-table::
@@ -258,6 +268,10 @@ A spec string follows the pattern ``[impl][version][t][-arch][-machine]``. Every
      - PyPy 3.9
    * - ``python3.13t``
      - Free-threaded (no-GIL) CPython 3.13
+   * - ``python3.13-dbg``
+     - Debug (``Py_DEBUG``) CPython 3.13 (``python3.13d`` also works)
+   * - ``python3.13td``
+     - Free-threaded debug CPython 3.13
    * - ``python3.12-64``
      - 64-bit CPython 3.12
    * - ``python3.12-64-arm64``
diff --git a/docs/how-to/standalone-usage.rst b/docs/how-to/standalone-usage.rst
index 507cdd2..0715d24 100644
--- a/docs/how-to/standalone-usage.rst
+++ b/docs/how-to/standalone-usage.rst
@@ -16,6 +16,25 @@ standard locations.
    if info is not None:
        print(info.executable)
 
+Select a debug build
+----------------------
+
+To require a debug (``Py_DEBUG``) interpreter, add the debug marker to the spec. Both the ABI-flag form
+``python3.13d`` and the Debian package name ``python3.13-dbg`` work, and each resolves to the same
+interpreter (Debian ships ``/usr/bin/python3.13d`` and ``/usr/bin/python3.13-dbg`` side by side). A spec with no
+marker keeps matching either build, so reach for the marker only when you need the debug build.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from python_discovery import get_interpreter
+
+   info = get_interpreter("python3.13-dbg")
+   if info is not None:
+       assert info.debug_build
+
+Combine the marker with the free-threaded ``t`` flag to select a free-threaded debug build, written
+``python3.13td`` (ABI-flag order is ``t`` then ``d``) or ``python3.13t-dbg``.
+
 Restrict the search environment
 ---------------------------------
 
@@ -135,6 +154,7 @@ Once you have a :class:`~python_discovery.PythonInfo`, you can inspect everythin
             +sysconfig_paths: dict
             +machine: str
             +free_threaded: bool
+            +debug_build: bool
         }
 
 .. code-block:: python
@@ -154,6 +174,7 @@ Once you have a :class:`~python_discovery.PythonInfo`, you can inspect everythin
    info.platform             # sys.platform value ("linux", "darwin", "win32").
    info.machine              # ISA: "arm64", "x86_64", etc.
    info.free_threaded        # True if this is a no-GIL build.
+   info.debug_build          # True if this is a Py_DEBUG build.
    info.sysconfig_vars       # All sysconfig.get_config_vars() values.
    info.sysconfig_paths      # All sysconfig.get_paths() values.
 
diff --git a/docs/tutorial/getting-started.rst b/docs/tutorial/getting-started.rst
index 1c10bc4..3ced1d4 100644
--- a/docs/tutorial/getting-started.rst
+++ b/docs/tutorial/getting-started.rst
@@ -142,12 +142,14 @@ You can add more constraints to narrow the search.
         Spec["Spec string"] --> Impl["impl<br>(optional)"]
         Impl --> Version["version<br>(optional)"]
         Version --> T["t<br>(optional)"]
-        T --> Arch["-arch<br>(optional)"]
+        T --> D["d / -dbg / -debug<br>(optional)"]
+        D --> Arch["-arch<br>(optional)"]
         Arch --> Machine["-machine<br>(optional)"]
 
         style Impl fill:#4a90d9,stroke:#2a5f8f,color:#fff
         style Version fill:#4a9f4a,stroke:#2a6f2a,color:#fff
         style T fill:#d9904a,stroke:#8f5f2a,color:#fff
+        style D fill:#4ad9c4,stroke:#2a8f7f,color:#fff
         style Arch fill:#d94a4a,stroke:#8f2a2a,color:#fff
         style Machine fill:#904ad9,stroke:#5f2a8f,color:#fff
 
@@ -167,6 +169,8 @@ Common examples:
      - PyPy 3.9
    * - ``python3.13t``
      - Free-threaded (no-GIL) CPython 3.13
+   * - ``python3.13-dbg``
+     - Debug (``Py_DEBUG``) CPython 3.13 (``python3.13d`` also works)
    * - ``python3.12-64``
      - 64-bit CPython 3.12
    * - ``python3.12-64-arm64``
@@ -188,11 +192,12 @@ inspecting what a spec means or for building tools on top of python-discovery.
 .. mermaid::
 
     flowchart TD
-        Input["cpython3.12t-64-arm64"] --> Parse["PythonSpec.from_string_spec()"]
+        Input["cpython3.13td-64-arm64"] --> Parse["PythonSpec.from_string_spec()"]
         Parse --> Spec["PythonSpec"]
         Spec --> impl["implementation: cpython"]
-        Spec --> ver["major: 3, minor: 12"]
+        Spec --> ver["major: 3, minor: 13"]
         Spec --> ft["free_threaded: True"]
+        Spec --> dbg["debug: True"]
         Spec --> arch["architecture: 64"]
         Spec --> mach["machine: arm64"]
 
@@ -203,11 +208,12 @@ inspecting what a spec means or for building tools on top of python-discovery.
 
    from python_discovery import PythonSpec
 
-   spec = PythonSpec.from_string_spec("cpython3.12t-64-arm64")
+   spec = PythonSpec.from_string_spec("cpython3.13td-64-arm64")
    spec.implementation   # "cpython"
    spec.major            # 3
-   spec.minor            # 12
+   spec.minor            # 13
    spec.free_threaded    # True
+   spec.debug            # True
    spec.architecture     # 64
    spec.machine          # "arm64"
 
diff --git a/src/python_discovery/_py_info.py b/src/python_discovery/_py_info.py
index 893bc02..1098934 100644
--- a/src/python_discovery/_py_info.py
+++ b/src/python_discovery/_py_info.py
@@ -481,6 +481,8 @@ def satisfies(self, spec: PythonSpec, *, impl_must_match: bool) -> bool:  # noqa
             return False
         if spec.free_threaded is not None and spec.free_threaded != self.free_threaded:
             return False
+        if spec.debug is not None and spec.debug != self.debug_build:
+            return False
         if spec.version_specifier is not None and not self._satisfies_version_specifier(spec):
             return False
         return all(
@@ -717,7 +719,7 @@ def _check_exe(  # noqa: PLR0913
         info = self.from_exe(exe_path, cache, resolve_to_host=False, raise_on_error=False, env=env)
         if info is None:  # ignore if for some reason we can't query
             return None
-        for item in ["implementation", "architecture", "machine", "version_info"]:
+        for item in ["implementation", "architecture", "machine", "version_info", "free_threaded", "debug_build"]:
             found = getattr(info, item)
             searched = getattr(self, item)
             if found != searched:
@@ -772,7 +774,9 @@ def _find_possible_folders(self, inside_folder: str) -> list[str]:
     def _find_possible_exe_names(self) -> list[str]:
         name_candidate = OrderedDict()
         mods = ["", "t"] if self.free_threaded else [""]
-        debug_suffixes = ["_d", ""] if self.debug_build else [""]
+        # _d (Windows python_d.exe), -dbg (Debian's own name), d (the abiflags form used by
+        # upstream/Fedora and also shipped by Debian, so pythonX.Yd / pythonX.Ytd resolve too)
+        debug_suffixes = ["_d", "-dbg", "d", ""] if self.debug_build else [""]
         archs = [f"-{self.architecture}", ""]
         for name in self._possible_base():
             for at in (3, 2, 1, 0):
diff --git a/src/python_discovery/_py_spec.py b/src/python_discovery/_py_spec.py
index f0fb53e..32beb6d 100644
--- a/src/python_discovery/_py_spec.py
+++ b/src/python_discovery/_py_spec.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     (?P<impl>[a-zA-Z]+)?            # implementation (e.g. cpython, pypy)
     (?P<version>[0-9.]+)?           # version (e.g. 3.12, 3.12.1)
     (?P<threaded>t)?                # free-threaded flag
+    (?P<debug>d|(?:-dbg|-debug)(?=-|$))?  # debug build flag (d, -dbg or -debug)
     (?:-(?P<arch>32|64))?           # architecture bitness
     (?:-(?P<machine>[a-zA-Z0-9_.]+))?  # ISA (e.g. arm64, x86_64, i86pc.64bit)
     $
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ def _parse_spec_pattern(string_spec: str) -> PythonSpec | None:
     groups = match.groupdict()
     version = groups["version"]
     major, minor, micro, threaded = None, None, None, None
+    debug = True if groups["debug"] else None  # unconstrained unless an explicit d/-dbg/-debug marker is present
     if version is not None:
         try:
             major, minor, micro = _parse_version_parts(version)
@@ -83,7 +85,9 @@ def _parse_spec_pattern(string_spec: str) -> PythonSpec | None:
     machine = groups.get("machine")
     if machine is not None:
         machine = normalize_isa(machine)
-    return PythonSpec(string_spec, impl, major, minor, micro, arch, None, free_threaded=threaded, machine=machine)
+    return PythonSpec(
+        string_spec, impl, major, minor, micro, arch, None, free_threaded=threaded, machine=machine, debug=debug
+    )
 
 
 def _parse_specifier(string_spec: str) -> PythonSpec | None:
@@ -117,6 +121,7 @@ class PythonSpec:
     :param path: filesystem path to a specific interpreter, or ``None``.
     :param free_threaded: whether a free-threaded build is required, or ``None`` for any.
     :param machine: required ISA (e.g. ``"arm64"``), or ``None`` for any.
+    :param debug: whether a debug (``Py_DEBUG``) build is required, or ``None`` for any.
     :param version_specifier:
         `version specifier <https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/specifications/version-specifiers/>`_
         constraints, or ``None``.
@@ -134,6 +139,7 @@ def __init__(  # noqa: PLR0913, PLR0917
         *,
         free_threaded: bool | None = None,
         machine: str | None = None,
+        debug: bool | None = None,
         version_specifier: SpecifierSet | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         self.str_spec = str_spec
@@ -144,6 +150,7 @@ def __init__(  # noqa: PLR0913, PLR0917
         self.free_threaded = free_threaded
         self.architecture = architecture
         self.machine = machine
+        self.debug = debug
         self.path = path
         self.version_specifier = version_specifier
 
@@ -181,10 +188,11 @@ def generate_re(self, *, windows: bool, all_implementations: bool = False) -> re
         else:
             impl = "python"
         mod = "t?" if self.free_threaded else ""
+        dbg = "(?:d|-dbg|-debug)?" if self.debug else ""
         suffix = r"\.exe" if windows else ""
         version_conditional = "?" if windows or self.major is None else ""
         return re.compile(
-            rf"(?P<impl>{impl})(?P<v>{version}{mod}){version_conditional}{suffix}$",
+            rf"(?P<impl>{impl})(?P<v>{version}{mod}){version_conditional}{dbg}{suffix}$",
             flags=re.IGNORECASE,
         )
 
@@ -263,6 +271,7 @@ def __repr__(self) -> str:
             "machine",
             "path",
             "free_threaded",
+            "debug",
             "version_specifier",
         )
         return f"{name}({', '.join(f'{k}={getattr(self, k)}' for k in params if getattr(self, k) is not None)})"
diff --git a/tests/py_info/test_py_info.py b/tests/py_info/test_py_info.py
index 162a757..c333248 100644
--- a/tests/py_info/test_py_info.py
+++ b/tests/py_info/test_py_info.py
@@ -259,6 +259,31 @@ def func(exe_path: str, _cache: object = None, **_kwargs: object) -> PythonInfo:
     assert warn_similar.msg.startswith("no exact match found, chosen most similar")
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("attr", ["free_threaded", "debug_build"])
+def test_discover_exe_validates_abi_flag(
+    attr: str, tmp_path: Path, mocker: MockerFixture, session_cache: DiskCache
+) -> None:
+    def candidate(*, flag: bool, name: str) -> PythonInfo:
+        info = copy.deepcopy(CURRENT)
+        setattr(info, attr, flag)
+        exe = tmp_path / name
+        exe.write_text("", encoding="utf-8")
+        info.executable = str(exe)
+        return info
+
+    target = candidate(flag=True, name="target")
+    mismatch = candidate(flag=False, name="release")
+    match = candidate(flag=True, name="debug")
+    by_path = {info.executable: info for info in (mismatch, match)}
+
+    mocker.patch.object(target, "_find_possible_exe_names", return_value=["release", "debug"])
+    mocker.patch.object(target, "_find_possible_folders", return_value=[str(tmp_path)])
+    mocker.patch.object(target, "from_exe", side_effect=lambda exe, *_a, **_k: by_path[exe])
+
+    found = target.discover_exe(session_cache, prefix=str(tmp_path), exact=True)
+    assert found is match  # the release build is refused even though version, impl and arch match
+
+
 def test_py_info_ignores_distutils_config(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     raw = f"""
     [install]
@@ -287,6 +312,18 @@ def test_discover_exe_on_path_non_spec_name_match(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None
     assert CURRENT.satisfies(spec, impl_must_match=True) is True
 
 
+def test_satisfies_debug_spec_requires_debug_build(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
+    spec = PythonSpec.from_string_spec(f"python{CURRENT.version_info.major}.{CURRENT.version_info.minor}-dbg")
+    assert spec.debug is True
+    mocker.patch.object(CURRENT, "free_threaded", spec.free_threaded)
+
+    mocker.patch.object(CURRENT, "debug_build", False)
+    assert CURRENT.satisfies(spec, impl_must_match=True) is False
+
+    mocker.patch.object(CURRENT, "debug_build", True)
+    assert CURRENT.satisfies(spec, impl_must_match=True) is True
+
+
 def test_discover_exe_on_path_non_spec_name_not_match(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
     suffixed_name = f"python{CURRENT.version_info.major}.{CURRENT.version_info.minor}m"
     if sys.platform == "win32":  # pragma: win32 cover
@@ -431,7 +468,10 @@ def test_py_info_debug_build_exe_names(*, debug: bool) -> None:
     info = copy.deepcopy(CURRENT)
     info.debug_build = debug
     names = info._find_possible_exe_names()
+    abiflag_name = f"python{info.version_info.major}.{info.version_info.minor}d"
     assert any("_d" in n for n in names) is debug
+    assert any(n.endswith("-dbg") for n in names) is debug
+    assert (abiflag_name in names) is debug
 
 
 def test_py_info_debug_build_json_round_trip() -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_py_spec.py b/tests/test_py_spec.py
index a616622..d4e6b1f 100644
--- a/tests/test_py_spec.py
+++ b/tests/test_py_spec.py
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ def test_specifier_satisfies_with_partial_information() -> None:
 def test_spec_parse_machine(spec_str: str, expected_machine: str | None) -> None:
     spec = PythonSpec.from_string_spec(spec_str)
     assert spec.machine == expected_machine
+    assert spec.debug is None  # the debug marker sits before -arch/-machine and must not swallow the ISA
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -202,6 +203,31 @@ def test_spec_parse_arch_and_machine_together(spec_str: str, expected_arch: int,
     assert spec.machine == expected_machine
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "spec_str",
+    [
+        pytest.param("python3.13-dbg", id="debian-dbg"),
+        pytest.param("python3.13-debug", id="debian-debug"),
+        pytest.param("python3.13d", id="abi-flag"),
+        pytest.param("cpython3.13d", id="impl-abi-flag"),
+        pytest.param("python3.13td", id="free-threaded-debug"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_spec_parse_debug(spec_str: str) -> None:
+    spec = PythonSpec.from_string_spec(spec_str)
+
+    assert spec.debug is True
+    assert spec.major == 3
+    assert spec.minor == 13
+    assert spec.machine is None
+    assert spec.path is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("spec_str", ["python3.13", "python"])
+def test_spec_parse_debug_unconstrained_without_marker(spec_str: str) -> None:
+    assert PythonSpec.from_string_spec(spec_str).debug is None
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("left", "right", "expected"),
     [
diff --git a/tests/test_py_spec_extra.py b/tests/test_py_spec_extra.py
index d779e23..2250f07 100644
--- a/tests/test_py_spec_extra.py
+++ b/tests/test_py_spec_extra.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 
+import pytest
+
 from python_discovery import PythonSpec
 
 
@@ -86,6 +88,13 @@ def test_generate_re_with_threaded() -> None:
     assert pat.fullmatch("python3.12t") is not None
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["python3.12-dbg", "python3.12d", "python3.12"])
+def test_generate_re_with_debug(name: str) -> None:
+    spec = PythonSpec.from_string_spec("python3.12-dbg")
+    pat = spec.generate_re(windows=False)
+    assert pat.fullmatch(name) is not None
+
+
 def test_single_digit_version() -> None:
     spec = PythonSpec.from_string_spec("python3")
     assert spec.major == 3