diff --git a/awx/ui/test/e2e/README.md b/awx/ui/test/e2e/README.md
index b0ac5ba1a0..5f935671ac 100644
--- a/awx/ui/test/e2e/README.md
+++ b/awx/ui/test/e2e/README.md
@@ -54,3 +54,25 @@ nightwatch.js tests. These functions are automatically made available for use by
 client object. For more information on these functions and how to 
 create your own, refer to the [nightwatch.js documentation on custom commands]
 (http://nightwatchjs.org/guide/#writing-custom-commands).
+
+#### CI Container Debugging
+To reproduce test runs in the ci container locally, you'll want to use the provided `docker-compose.yml` file as well as some override files
+to link the containers to your development environment.
+
+```shell
+# docker-compose.yml - the default configuration for ci
+# docker-compose.devel-override.yml - link ci container to development containers
+# docker-compose.debug-override.hml - make chrome and firefox nodes accessible over vnc
+docker-compose \
+  -f awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml \
+  -f awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.devel-override.yml \
+  -f awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.debug-override.yml \
+  run -e AWX_E2E_URL=https://awx:8043 -e AWX_E2E_USERNAME=awx -e AWX_E2E_PASSWORD=password e2e '--filter=*smoke*'
+```
+
+Once running, you can connect to nodes over vnc at `vnc://localhost:5900` and `vnc://localhost:5901`.
+
+**Note:**
+- On macOS, safari has a built-in vnc client and you should be able to use these urls directly.
+- On linux, you'll need to have your favorite vnc client ready (like `tigervnc`). Depending on the vnc client you use, you may need to visit `localhost:5900` and input the password `secret` separately.
+- For the chrome and firefox nodes, the development container instance of awx is mapped to hostname `awx` (https://awx:8043)
diff --git a/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.debug-override.yml b/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.debug-override.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..11211e9cf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.debug-override.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+version: '2'
+services:
+  chrome:
+    # tests are observable at vnc://localhost:secret@localhost:5900
+    image: selenium/node-chrome-debug
+    ports: ['5900:5900']
+  firefox:
+    # tests are observable at vnc://localhost:secret@localhost:5901
+    image: selenium/node-firefox-dedbug
+    ports: ['5901:5900']
diff --git a/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml b/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml
index 883f316051..b1b5377894 100644
--- a/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/awx/ui/test/e2e/cluster/docker-compose.yml
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ services:
       DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS: /dev/null
   chrome:
     image: selenium/node-chrome
-    # uncomment the two lines below to make tests watchable at vnc://localhost:secret@localhost:5900
-    # image: selenium/node-chrome-debug
-    # ports: ['5900:5900']
     links:
       - hub
     volumes: