diff --git a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_metrics.c b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_metrics.c
index 4aa80c105..acace7743 100644
--- a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_metrics.c
+++ b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_metrics.c
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@
 static FILE *g_file = NULL;
 static struct os_mutex g_file_mutex;
 static bool g_metrics_initialized = false;
+static bool g_metrics_early_flush = false;
 
 DEBUG_GET_ONCE_OPTION(metrics_file, "XRT_METRICS_FILE", NULL)
+DEBUG_GET_ONCE_BOOL_OPTION(metrics_early_flush, "XRT_METRICS_EARLY_FLUSH", false)
 
 
 
@@ -51,6 +53,10 @@ write_record(monado_metrics_Record *r)
 
 	fwrite(buffer, stream.bytes_written, 1, g_file);
 
+	if (g_metrics_early_flush) {
+		fflush(g_file);
+	}
+
 	os_mutex_unlock(&g_file_mutex);
 }
 
@@ -96,6 +102,7 @@ u_metrics_init(void)
 	os_mutex_init(&g_file_mutex);
 
 	g_metrics_initialized = true;
+	g_metrics_early_flush = debug_get_bool_option_metrics_early_flush();
 
 	write_version(VERSION_MAJOR, VERSION_MINOR);