diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 98abac1..6e50633 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -156,6 +156,10 @@ below `/var/src`, and executes `NIX_PATH=/var/src nix-build -A system '<nixpkgs/
 
 [see `writeDeploy`](#writeDeploy)
 
+### `trace` (optional, defaults to false)
+
+run nix-build with `--show-trace`
+
 ## writeCommand
 
 This can be used to run other commands than `nixos-rebuild` or pre/post build hooks.
diff --git a/pkgs/krops/default.nix b/pkgs/krops/default.nix
index 63d23dc..b4f89b6 100644
--- a/pkgs/krops/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/krops/default.nix
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ in
     backup ? false,
     force ? false,
     source,
-    target
+    target,
+    trace ? false
   }: let
     target' = lib.mkTarget target;
   in
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ in
           -A system \
           --keep-going \
           --no-out-link \
-          --show-trace \
+          ${lib.optionalString trace "--show-trace"} \
           '<nixpkgs/nixos>'
     '';
 }