diff --git a/references/cli/up.go b/references/cli/up.go
index d848e3ea0..69e1184d4 100644
--- a/references/cli/up.go
+++ b/references/cli/up.go
@@ -175,10 +175,7 @@ func (opt *UpCommandOptions) deployExistingApp(f velacmd.Factory, cmd *cobra.Com
 		}
 		oam.SetPublishVersion(app, opt.PublishVersion)
 		if opt.Debug {
-			app.Spec.Policies = append(app.Spec.Policies, v1beta1.AppPolicy{
-				Name: "debug",
-				Type: "debug",
-			})
+			addDebugPolicy(app)
 		}
 		return cli.Update(ctx, app)
 	}); err != nil {
@@ -188,6 +185,18 @@ func (opt *UpCommandOptions) deployExistingApp(f velacmd.Factory, cmd *cobra.Com
 	return nil
 }
 
+func addDebugPolicy(app *v1beta1.Application) {
+	for _, policy := range app.Spec.Policies {
+		if policy.Type == "debug" {
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	app.Spec.Policies = append(app.Spec.Policies, v1beta1.AppPolicy{
+		Name: "debug",
+		Type: "debug",
+	})
+}
+
 func (opt *UpCommandOptions) deployApplicationFromFile(f velacmd.Factory, cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 	cli := f.Client()
 	body, err := common.ReadRemoteOrLocalPath(opt.File)