diff --git a/elements/debian/README.md b/elements/debian/README.md
index eab538569..885387cea 100644
--- a/elements/debian/README.md
+++ b/elements/debian/README.md
@@ -10,3 +10,7 @@ and pass it in via `DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR`.
 Use of this element will also require the tool 'debootstrap' to be
 available on your system. It should be available on Ubuntu, Debian,
 and Fedora.
+
+The `DIB_OFFLINE` or more specific `DIB_DEBIAN_USE_DEBOOTSTRAP_CACHE`
+variables can be set to prefer the use of a pre-cached root filesystem
+tarball.
diff --git a/elements/debian/root.d/08-debootstrap b/elements/debian/root.d/08-debootstrap
index d33b3a4fe..13aa84b1b 100755
--- a/elements/debian/root.d/08-debootstrap
+++ b/elements/debian/root.d/08-debootstrap
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR=${DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR:-http://http.debian.net/debian
 http_proxy=${http_proxy:-}
 
 set -x
-if [ -n "$DIB_OFFLINE" ] && [ -f $DEBOOTSTRAP_TARBALL ] ; then
+if [ -n "$DIB_OFFLINE" -o -n "${DIB_DEBIAN_USE_DEBOOTSTRAP_CACHE:-}" ] && [ -f $DEBOOTSTRAP_TARBALL ] ; then
     echo $DEBOOTSTRAP_TARBALL found in cache. Using.
     sudo tar -C $TARGET_ROOT --numeric-owner -xzf $DEBOOTSTRAP_TARBALL
 else