diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/lib/proxyHelper.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/lib/proxyHelper.js
index 1bb1cc8e4..0a0edcaf7 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/lib/proxyHelper.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/lib/proxyHelper.js
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ const DEFAULT_PORTS = {
     mqtts: 8883
 }
 
+const modeOverride = getEnv('NR_PROXY_MODE', {})
+
 /**
  * @typedef {Object} ProxyOptions
  * @property {'strict'|'legacy'} [mode] - Legacy mode is for non-strict previous proxy determination logic (for node-red <= v3.1 compatibility) (default 'strict')
@@ -81,6 +83,10 @@ function getProxyForUrl(url, options) {
     }
     options = Object.assign({}, defaultOptions, options)
 
+    if (modeOverride === 'legacy' || modeOverride === 'strict') {
+        options.mode = modeOverride
+    }
+
     if (options.mode === 'legacy') {
         return legacyGetProxyForUrl(url, options.env || process.env)
     }