diff --git a/doc/changes/auxiliary/mr.2400.md b/doc/changes/auxiliary/mr.2400.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f601067af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changes/auxiliary/mr.2400.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+u/debug_gui: Add an interface to control the window title and if the window
+opens or not.
diff --git a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_debug_gui.c b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_debug_gui.c
index 156679d4d..0418a8e7b 100644
--- a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_debug_gui.c
+++ b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_debug_gui.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Copyright 2019-2024, Collabora, Ltd.
+// Copyright 2024-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: BSL-1.0
 /*!
  * @file
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@
 struct u_debug_gui;
 
 int
-u_debug_gui_create(struct u_debug_gui **out_debug_ui)
+u_debug_gui_create(const struct u_debug_gui_create_info *udgci, struct u_debug_gui **out_debug_ui)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -72,6 +73,9 @@ struct u_debug_gui
 {
 	struct gui_program base;
 
+	//! Information passed in at create.
+	struct u_debug_gui_create_info udgci;
+
 	SDL_GLContext ctx;
 	SDL_Window *win;
 
@@ -97,7 +101,6 @@ sdl2_window_init(struct u_debug_gui *p)
 {
 	XRT_TRACE_MARKER();
 
-	const char *title = "Monado! ✨⚡🔥";
 	int x = SDL_WINDOWPOS_UNDEFINED;
 	int y = SDL_WINDOWPOS_UNDEFINED;
 	int w = 1920;
@@ -121,7 +124,7 @@ sdl2_window_init(struct u_debug_gui *p)
 	window_flags |= SDL_WINDOW_MAXIMIZED;
 #endif
 
-	p->win = SDL_CreateWindow(title, x, y, w, h, window_flags);
+	p->win = SDL_CreateWindow(p->udgci.window_title, x, y, w, h, window_flags);
 	if (p->win == NULL) {
 		U_LOG_E("Failed to create window!");
 		return;
@@ -340,13 +343,18 @@ u_debug_gui_run_thread(void *ptr)
 }
 
 int
-u_debug_gui_create(struct u_debug_gui **out_debug_gui)
+u_debug_gui_create(const struct u_debug_gui_create_info *udgci, struct u_debug_gui **out_debug_gui)
 {
 	XRT_TRACE_MARKER();
 
-	// Enabled?
-	if (!debug_get_bool_option_gui()) {
-		return 0;
+	switch (udgci->open) {
+	case U_DEBUG_GUI_OPEN_AUTO:
+		if (!debug_get_bool_option_gui()) {
+			return 0;
+		}
+		break;
+	case U_DEBUG_GUI_OPEN_ALWAYS: break;
+	case U_DEBUG_GUI_OPEN_NEVER: return 0; // No-op
 	}
 
 	// Need to do this as early as possible.
@@ -357,6 +365,9 @@ u_debug_gui_create(struct u_debug_gui **out_debug_gui)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	// Copy the data.
+	p->udgci = *udgci;
+
 	os_thread_helper_init(&p->oth);
 
 	*out_debug_gui = p;
diff --git a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_debug_gui.h b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_debug_gui.h
index cc3e24f17..041855001 100644
--- a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_debug_gui.h
+++ b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_debug_gui.h
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Copyright 2019-2023, Collabora, Ltd.
+// Copyright 2024-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: BSL-1.0
 /*!
  * @file
@@ -16,17 +17,71 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
+#define U_DEBUG_GUI_WINDOW_TITLE_MAX (256)
+
 struct xrt_instance;
 struct xrt_system_devices;
 
 struct u_debug_gui;
 
+/*!
+ * Controls if the debug gui window is opened, allowing code to always call
+ * create and progmatically or external control if the window is opened.
+ *
+ * @ingroup aux_util
+ */
+enum u_debug_gui_open
+{
+	//! Opens the window if the environmental variable XRT_DEBUG_GUI is true.
+	U_DEBUG_GUI_OPEN_AUTO,
+	//! Always (if supported) opens the window.
+	U_DEBUG_GUI_OPEN_ALWAYS,
+	//! Never opens the window.
+	U_DEBUG_GUI_OPEN_NEVER,
+};
+
+/*!
+ * Argument to the function @ref u_debug_gui_create.
+ *
+ * @ingroup aux_util
+ */
+struct u_debug_gui_create_info
+{
+	char window_title[U_DEBUG_GUI_WINDOW_TITLE_MAX];
+
+	enum u_debug_gui_open open;
+};
+
+/*!
+ * Creates the debug gui, may not create it.
+ *
+ * If the debug gui is disabled through the means listed below this function
+ * will return 0, but not create any struct and set @p out_debug_gui to NULL.
+ * It is safe to call the other functions with a NULL @p debug_gui argument.
+ *
+ * The window will be disabled and 0 returned if:
+ * * Monado was compiled without the needed dependencies, like SDL.
+ * * The @p open field on the info struct set to NEVER.
+ * * The XRT_DEBUG_GUI env variable is false (or unset).
+ *
+ * @ingroup aux_util
+ */
 int
-u_debug_gui_create(struct u_debug_gui **out_debug_gui);
+u_debug_gui_create(const struct u_debug_gui_create_info *info, struct u_debug_gui **out_debug_gui);
 
+/*!
+ * Starts the debug gui, also passes in some structs that might be needed.
+ *
+ * @ingroup aux_util
+ */
 void
 u_debug_gui_start(struct u_debug_gui *debug_gui, struct xrt_instance *xinst, struct xrt_system_devices *xsysd);
 
+/*!
+ * Stops the debug gui, closing the window and freeing resources.
+ *
+ * @ingroup aux_util
+ */
 void
 u_debug_gui_stop(struct u_debug_gui **debug_gui);
 
diff --git a/src/xrt/ipc/server/ipc_server_process.c b/src/xrt/ipc/server/ipc_server_process.c
index fe84b0c46..2bf73ff03 100644
--- a/src/xrt/ipc/server/ipc_server_process.c
+++ b/src/xrt/ipc/server/ipc_server_process.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Copyright 2020-2024, Collabora, Ltd.
+// Copyright 2024-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: BSL-1.0
 /*!
  * @file
@@ -1018,12 +1019,18 @@ ipc_server_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	timeBeginPeriod(1);
 #endif
 
+	struct u_debug_gui_info udgci = {
+	    .window_title = "Monado! ✨⚡🔥",
+	    .open = U_DEBUG_GUI_OPEN_AUTO,
+	};
+
 	/*
 	 * Need to create early before any vars are added. Not created in
 	 * init_all since that function is shared with Android and the debug
 	 * GUI isn't supported on Android.
 	 */
-	u_debug_gui_create(&s->debug_gui);
+	u_debug_gui_create(&udgci, &s->debug_gui);
+
 
 	int ret = init_all(s, log_level);
 	if (ret < 0) {
diff --git a/src/xrt/state_trackers/oxr/oxr_instance.c b/src/xrt/state_trackers/oxr/oxr_instance.c
index 771be73ae..b36c65708 100644
--- a/src/xrt/state_trackers/oxr/oxr_instance.c
+++ b/src/xrt/state_trackers/oxr/oxr_instance.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2024, Collabora, Ltd.
+// Copyright 2024-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: BSL-1.0
 /*!
  * @file
@@ -250,7 +251,12 @@ oxr_instance_create(struct oxr_logger *log,
 	}
 
 #ifdef XRT_FEATURE_CLIENT_DEBUG_GUI
-	u_debug_gui_create(&inst->debug_ui);
+	struct u_debug_gui_create_info udgci = {
+	    .window_title = "Monado! ✨⚡🔥",
+	    .open = U_DEBUG_GUI_OPEN_AUTO,
+	};
+
+	u_debug_gui_create(&udgci, &inst->debug_ui);
 #endif
 
 	ret = oxr_path_init(log, inst);
diff --git a/src/xrt/targets/sdl_test/sdl_hack_stubs.c b/src/xrt/targets/sdl_test/sdl_hack_stubs.c
index ad103d309..f66443831 100644
--- a/src/xrt/targets/sdl_test/sdl_hack_stubs.c
+++ b/src/xrt/targets/sdl_test/sdl_hack_stubs.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ struct xrt_system_devices;
 
 
 int
-u_debug_gui_create(void **out_hack)
+u_debug_gui_create(void *hack, void **out_hack)
 {
 	return 0;
 }