diff --git a/base/vulkanexamplebase.cpp b/base/vulkanexamplebase.cpp
index 58ce8a5f..e1312e4b 100644
--- a/base/vulkanexamplebase.cpp
+++ b/base/vulkanexamplebase.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@ VkResult VulkanExampleBase::createDevice(VkDeviceQueueCreateInfo requestedQueues
 	deviceCreateInfo.pQueueCreateInfos = &requestedQueues;
 	deviceCreateInfo.pEnabledFeatures = NULL;
 
+	// enable the debug marker extension if it is present (likely meaning a debugging tool is present)
+	if (vkTools::checkDeviceExtensionPresent(physicalDevice, VK_EXT_DEBUG_MARKER_EXTENSION_NAME))
+	{
+		enabledExtensions.push_back(VK_EXT_DEBUG_MARKER_EXTENSION_NAME);
+		enableDebugMarkers = true;
+	}
+
 	if (enabledExtensions.size() > 0)
 	{
 		deviceCreateInfo.enabledExtensionCount = (uint32_t)enabledExtensions.size();
@@ -249,6 +256,10 @@ void VulkanExampleBase::prepare()
 	{
 		vkDebug::setupDebugging(instance, VK_DEBUG_REPORT_ERROR_BIT_EXT | VK_DEBUG_REPORT_WARNING_BIT_EXT, NULL);
 	}
+	if (enableDebugMarkers)
+	{
+		vkDebug::setupDebugMarkers(device);
+	}
 	createCommandPool();
 	createSetupCommandBuffer();
 	setupSwapChain();
diff --git a/base/vulkanexamplebase.h b/base/vulkanexamplebase.h
index a506f031..1fcfaa87 100644
--- a/base/vulkanexamplebase.h
+++ b/base/vulkanexamplebase.h
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ class VulkanExampleBase
 private:	
 	// Set to true when example is created with enabled validation layers
 	bool enableValidation = false;
+	// Set to true when the debug marker extension is detected
+	bool enableDebugMarkers = false;
 	// fps timer (one second interval)
 	float fpsTimer = 0.0f;
 	// Create application wide Vulkan instance