diff --git a/src/pretix/control/context.py b/src/pretix/control/context.py
index 0b98224923..0a8a9014e4 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/context.py
+++ b/src/pretix/control/context.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import sys
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.urlresolvers import Resolver404, get_script_prefix, resolve
 
@@ -46,4 +47,9 @@ def contextprocessor(request):
     ctx['js_date_format'] = get_javascript_format('DATE_INPUT_FORMATS')
     ctx['js_locale'] = get_moment_locale()
 
+    if settings.DEBUG and 'runserver' not in sys.argv:
+        ctx['debug_warning'] = True
+    elif 'runserver' in sys.argv:
+        ctx['development_warning'] = True
+
     return ctx
diff --git a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/base.html b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/base.html
index 1fdab732f8..bf1d4f4fef 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/base.html
+++ b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/base.html
@@ -174,6 +174,12 @@
                         {% endfor %}
                     {% endif %}
 
+                    {% if debug_warning %}
+                        <div class="alert alert-danger">
+                            {% trans "pretix is running in debug mode. For security reasons, please never run debug mode on a production instance." %}
+                        </div>
+                    {% endif %}
+
                     {% block content %}
                     {% endblock %}
                     <footer>
@@ -182,6 +188,9 @@
                                 powered by <a {{ a_attr }}>pretix</a>
                             {% endblocktrans %}
                         {% endwith %}
+                        {% if development_warning %}
+                            <span class="text-warning">&middot {% trans "running in development mode" %}</span>
+                        {% endif %}
                     </footer>
                 </div>
             </div>