diff --git a/src/cvars.cpp b/src/cvars.cpp
index bdfa4599a..bcfedba5c 100644
--- a/src/cvars.cpp
+++ b/src/cvars.cpp
@@ -803,6 +803,7 @@ consvar_t cv_restrictskinchange = OnlineCheat("restrictskinchange", "Yes").yes_n
 consvar_t cv_spbtest = OnlineCheat("spbtest", "Off").on_off().description("SPB can never target a player");
 consvar_t cv_timescale = OnlineCheat(cvlist_timer)("timescale", "1.0").floating_point().min_max(FRACUNIT/20, 20*FRACUNIT).description("Overclock or slow down the game");
 consvar_t cv_ufo_follow = OnlineCheat("ufo_follow", "0").min_max(0, MAXPLAYERS).description("Make UFO Catcher folow this player");
+consvar_t cv_ufo_health = OnlineCheat("ufo_health", "100").min_max(0, 100).description("Override UFO Catcher health -- applied at spawn or when value is changed");
 
 
 //
diff --git a/src/objects/ufo.c b/src/objects/ufo.c
index de45c0361..aa976f4d9 100644
--- a/src/objects/ufo.c
+++ b/src/objects/ufo.c
@@ -552,8 +552,34 @@ static void UFOUpdateSound(mobj_t *ufo) {
 	}
 }
 
+static void UFODebugSetHealth(mobj_t *ufo, UINT8 health)
+{
+	if (ufo->health == health + 1 || UFOEmeraldChase(ufo) == true)
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
+	extern consvar_t cv_ufo_follow;
+
+	UINT8 pnum = max(1, cv_ufo_follow.value) - 1;
+	mobj_t *source = players[pnum].mo;
+
+	if (playeringame[pnum] == false || P_MobjWasRemoved(source) == true)
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
+	ufo->health = health + 2;
+	Obj_SpecialUFODamage(ufo, ufo, source, DMG_NORMAL); // does 1 damage, updates pieces
+}
+
 void Obj_SpecialUFOThinker(mobj_t *ufo)
 {
+	{
+		extern consvar_t cv_ufo_health;
+		UFODebugSetHealth(ufo, cv_ufo_health.value);
+	}
+
 	UFOMove(ufo);
 	UFOUpdateAngle(ufo);
 	UFOUpdateDistanceToFinish(ufo);
@@ -773,6 +799,11 @@ static UINT8 GetUFODamage(mobj_t *inflictor, UINT8 damageType)
 				// Players deal damage relative to how many sneakers they used.
 				return 15 * max(1, inflictor->player->numsneakers);
 			}
+			case MT_SPECIAL_UFO:
+			{
+				// UFODebugSetHealth
+				return 1;
+			}
 			default:
 			{
 				break;