--- a/testing/mozharness/scripts/fx_desktop_build.py
+++ b/testing/mozharness/scripts/fx_desktop_build.py
@@ -144,17 +144,20 @@ class FxDesktopBuild(BuildScript, TryToo
                 variant = c['artifact_flag_build_variant_in_try']
                 if not variant:
                     self.info('Build variant has falsy `artifact_flag_build_variant_in_try`; '
                               'ignoring artifact build request and performing original build.')
                     return
                 self.info('Build variant has `artifact_build_variant_in_try`: "%s".' % variant)
             else:
                 if not c.get('build_variant'):
-                    variant = 'artifact'
+                    if c.get('debug_build'):
+                        variant = 'debug-artifact'
+                    else:
+                        variant = 'artifact'
                 elif c.get('build_variant') in ['debug', 'cross-debug']:
                     variant = 'debug-artifact'
 
             if variant:
                 self.info('Using artifact build variant "%s".' % variant)
                 self._update_build_variant(rw_config, variant)
 
     # helpers