diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/NiaApplication.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/NiaApplication.kt
index 8e3ad814a..77f72e5fc 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/NiaApplication.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/google/samples/apps/nowinandroid/NiaApplication.kt
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 package com.google.samples.apps.nowinandroid
 
 import android.app.Application
+import android.content.pm.ApplicationInfo
+import android.os.StrictMode
+import android.os.StrictMode.ThreadPolicy.Builder
 import coil.ImageLoader
 import coil.ImageLoaderFactory
 import com.google.samples.apps.nowinandroid.sync.initializers.Sync
@@ -37,10 +40,34 @@ class NiaApplication : Application(), ImageLoaderFactory {
 
     override fun onCreate() {
         super.onCreate()
+
+        setStrictModePolicy()
+
         // Initialize Sync; the system responsible for keeping data in the app up to date.
         Sync.initialize(context = this)
         profileVerifierLogger()
     }
 
     override fun newImageLoader(): ImageLoader = imageLoader.get()
+
+    /**
+     * Return true if the application is debuggable.
+     */
+    private fun isDebuggable(): Boolean {
+        return 0 != applicationInfo.flags and ApplicationInfo.FLAG_DEBUGGABLE
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set a thread policy that detects all potential problems on the main thread, such as network
+     * and disk access.
+     *
+     * If a problem is found, the offending call will be logged and the application will be killed.
+     */
+    private fun setStrictModePolicy() {
+        if (isDebuggable()) {
+            StrictMode.setThreadPolicy(
+                Builder().detectAll().penaltyLog().penaltyDeath().build(),
+            )
+        }
+    }
 }