diff --git a/platformio/commands/debug/command.py b/platformio/commands/debug/command.py
index 918aeb60..c604d8b9 100644
--- a/platformio/commands/debug/command.py
+++ b/platformio/commands/debug/command.py
@@ -39,12 +39,22 @@ from platformio.managers.core import inject_contrib_pysite
         dir_okay=True,
         writable=True,
         resolve_path=True))
+@click.option(
+    "-c",
+    "--project-conf",
+    type=click.Path(
+        exists=True,
+        file_okay=True,
+        dir_okay=False,
+        readable=True,
+        resolve_path=True))
 @click.option("--environment", "-e", metavar="<environment>")
 @click.option("--verbose", "-v", is_flag=True)
 @click.option("--interface", type=click.Choice(["gdb"]))
 @click.argument("__unprocessed", nargs=-1, type=click.UNPROCESSED)
 @click.pass_context
-def cli(ctx, project_dir, environment, verbose, interface, __unprocessed):
+def cli(ctx, project_dir, project_conf, environment, verbose, interface,
+        __unprocessed):
     try:
         util.ensure_udev_rules()
     except NameError:
@@ -59,8 +69,10 @@ def cli(ctx, project_dir, environment, verbose, interface, __unprocessed):
         project_dir = os.getenv("CWD")
 
     with util.cd(project_dir):
-        env_name = helpers.check_env_name(project_dir, environment)
-        env_options = helpers.get_env_options(project_dir, env_name)
+        env_name = helpers.check_env_name(project_conf or project_dir,
+                                          environment)
+        env_options = helpers.get_env_options(project_conf or project_dir,
+                                              env_name)
         if not set(env_options.keys()) >= set(["platform", "board"]):
             raise exception.ProjectEnvsNotAvailable()
         debug_options = helpers.validate_debug_options(ctx, env_options)
diff --git a/platformio/commands/debug/helpers.py b/platformio/commands/debug/helpers.py
index 42a4ef40..757d3ad9 100644
--- a/platformio/commands/debug/helpers.py
+++ b/platformio/commands/debug/helpers.py
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ def escape_path(path):
     return path.replace("\\", "/")
 
 
-def check_env_name(project_dir, environment):
-    config = util.load_project_config(project_dir)
+def check_env_name(project_conf, environment):
+    config = util.load_project_config(project_conf)
     envs = []
     for section in config.sections():
         if section.startswith("env:"):
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ def check_env_name(project_dir, environment):
     return envs[0]
 
 
-def get_env_options(project_dir, environment):
-    config = util.load_project_config(project_dir)
+def get_env_options(project_conf, environment):
+    config = util.load_project_config(project_conf)
     options = {}
     for k, v in config.items("env:%s" % environment):
         options[k] = v
diff --git a/platformio/commands/test/command.py b/platformio/commands/test/command.py
index a4a3d627..47f8571f 100644
--- a/platformio/commands/test/command.py
+++ b/platformio/commands/test/command.py
@@ -53,6 +53,15 @@ from platformio.commands.test.native import NativeTestProcessor
         dir_okay=True,
         writable=True,
         resolve_path=True))
+@click.option(
+    "-c",
+    "--project-conf",
+    type=click.Path(
+        exists=True,
+        file_okay=True,
+        dir_okay=False,
+        readable=True,
+        resolve_path=True))
 @click.option("--without-building", is_flag=True)
 @click.option("--without-uploading", is_flag=True)
 @click.option("--without-testing", is_flag=True)
@@ -71,14 +80,14 @@ from platformio.commands.test.native import NativeTestProcessor
 @click.pass_context
 def cli(  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
         ctx, environment, ignore, filter, upload_port, test_port, project_dir,
-        without_building, without_uploading, without_testing, no_reset,
-        monitor_rts, monitor_dtr, verbose):
+        project_conf, without_building, without_uploading, without_testing,
+        no_reset, monitor_rts, monitor_dtr, verbose):
     with util.cd(project_dir):
         test_dir = util.get_projecttest_dir()
         if not isdir(test_dir):
             raise exception.TestDirNotExists(test_dir)
         test_names = get_test_names(test_dir)
-        projectconf = util.load_project_config()
+        projectconf = util.load_project_config(project_conf)
         env_default = None
         if projectconf.has_option("platformio", "env_default"):
             env_default = util.parse_conf_multi_values(