diff --git a/lib/internal/bootstrap_node.js b/lib/internal/bootstrap_node.js
index a6ac7b66afbc0b..6b718df2acba5a 100644
--- a/lib/internal/bootstrap_node.js
+++ b/lib/internal/bootstrap_node.js
@@ -60,11 +60,7 @@
     NativeModule.require('internal/trace_events_async_hooks').setup();
     NativeModule.require('internal/inspector_async_hook').setup();
 
-    // Do not initialize channel in debugger agent, it deletes env variable
-    // and the main thread won't see it.
-    if (process.argv[1] !== '--debug-agent')
-      _process.setupChannel();
-
+    _process.setupChannel();
     _process.setupRawDebug();
 
     const browserGlobals = !process._noBrowserGlobals;