diff --git a/engine.code-workspace b/engine.code-workspace
index b7f56d9084f96..c285f6a083d66 100644
--- a/engine.code-workspace
+++ b/engine.code-workspace
@@ -145,6 +145,12 @@
           "prependTestRunningArgs": [
             "--enable_playground"
           ]
+        },
+        "env": {
+          "MTL_DEBUG_LAYER": "1",
+          "MTL_DEBUG_LAYER_ERROR_MODE": "assert",
+          "MTL_DEBUG_LAYER_WARNING_MODE": "nslog",
+          "MTL_SHADER_VALIDATION": "1"
         }
       },
       {
diff --git a/tools/vscode_workspace/engine-workspace.yaml b/tools/vscode_workspace/engine-workspace.yaml
index ed9f275d0f4b0..a5cdde16b558e 100644
--- a/tools/vscode_workspace/engine-workspace.yaml
+++ b/tools/vscode_workspace/engine-workspace.yaml
@@ -133,6 +133,11 @@ settings:
       gtest:
         prependTestRunningArgs:
           - --enable_playground
+      env:
+        MTL_DEBUG_LAYER: "1"
+        MTL_DEBUG_LAYER_ERROR_MODE: assert
+        MTL_DEBUG_LAYER_WARNING_MODE: nslog
+        MTL_SHADER_VALIDATION: "1"
     - name: display_list_unittests_arm64
       pattern: ../out/host_debug_unopt_arm64/display_list_unittests
       runTask: