diff --git a/accounts/templatetags/turnstile_tags.py b/accounts/templatetags/turnstile_tags.py
index 6cddcd67..aa1e16eb 100644
--- a/accounts/templatetags/turnstile_tags.py
+++ b/accounts/templatetags/turnstile_tags.py
@@ -1,14 +1,24 @@
 from django import template
 from django.conf import settings
+from django.template.loader import render_to_string
 
 register = template.Library()
 
-@register.inclusion_tag('accounts/turnstile_widget.html')
+@register.simple_tag
 def turnstile_widget():
     """
     Template tag to render the Cloudflare Turnstile widget.
+    When DEBUG is True, renders an empty template.
+    When DEBUG is False, renders the normal widget.
     Usage: {% load turnstile_tags %}{% turnstile_widget %}
     """
-    return {
-        'site_key': settings.TURNSTILE_SITE_KEY
-    }
+    if settings.DEBUG:
+        template_name = 'accounts/turnstile_widget_empty.html'
+        context = {}
+    else:
+        template_name = 'accounts/turnstile_widget.html'
+        context = {
+            'site_key': settings.TURNSTILE_SITE_KEY
+        }
+    
+    return render_to_string(template_name, context)
diff --git a/templates/accounts/turnstile_widget_empty.html b/templates/accounts/turnstile_widget_empty.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d81e80a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/accounts/turnstile_widget_empty.html
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<!-- Empty template when DEBUG is True -->