diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/os/linux/global.rb b/Library/Homebrew/os/linux/global.rb
index fb74e0afa3..31ada6196e 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/os/linux/global.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/os/linux/global.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 # enables experimental readelf.rb, patchelf support.
-HOMEBREW_PATCHELF_RB = ENV["HOMEBREW_PATCHELF_RB"].present?.freeze
+HOMEBREW_PATCHELF_RB = (ENV["HOMEBREW_PATCHELF_RB"].present? ||
+                        (ENV["HOMEBREW_DEVELOPER"].present? && ENV["HOMEBREW_NO_PATCHELF_RB"].blank?)).freeze
 
 module Homebrew
   DEFAULT_PREFIX ||= if Homebrew::EnvConfig.force_homebrew_on_linux?