diff --git a/d2cli/main.go b/d2cli/main.go
index 6e49ad0615..c3358fc0d8 100644
--- a/d2cli/main.go
+++ b/d2cli/main.go
@@ -152,6 +152,11 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State) (err error) {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	playwrightBrowserFlag := ms.Opts.String("D2_PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSER", "playwright-browser", "", "extended", "Any of the browsers listed here: https://playwright.dev/docs/browsers")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	plugins, err := d2plugin.ListPlugins(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -324,7 +329,7 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State) (err error) {
 	}
 	var pw png.Playwright
 	if outputFormat.requiresPNGRenderer() {
-		pw, err = png.InitPlaywrightWithPrompt()
+		pw, err = png.InitPlaywrightWithPrompt(*playwrightBrowserFlag)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -361,21 +366,22 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State) (err error) {
 			ms.Log.Debug.Printf("GIF export: animate-interval not specified, defaulting to 1000ms")
 		}
 		w, err := newWatcher(ctx, ms, watcherOpts{
-			plugins:         plugins,
-			layout:          layoutFlag,
-			renderOpts:      renderOpts,
-			animateInterval: animateInterval,
-			host:            *hostFlag,
-			port:            *portFlag,
-			inputPath:       inputPath,
-			outputPath:      outputPath,
-			bundle:          *bundleFlag,
-			forceAppendix:   *forceAppendixFlag,
-			pw:              pw,
-			fontFamily:      fontFamily,
-			monoFontFamily:  monoFontFamily,
-			outputFormat:    outputFormat,
-			asciiMode:       *asciiModeFlag,
+			plugins:           plugins,
+			layout:            layoutFlag,
+			renderOpts:        renderOpts,
+			animateInterval:   animateInterval,
+			host:              *hostFlag,
+			port:              *portFlag,
+			inputPath:         inputPath,
+			outputPath:        outputPath,
+			bundle:            *bundleFlag,
+			forceAppendix:     *forceAppendixFlag,
+			pw:                pw,
+			fontFamily:        fontFamily,
+			monoFontFamily:    monoFontFamily,
+			outputFormat:      outputFormat,
+			asciiMode:         *asciiModeFlag,
+			playwrightBrowser: *playwrightBrowserFlag,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -1298,7 +1304,7 @@ func populateLayoutOpts(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State, ps []d2plugin.Plug
 }
 
 func initPlaywright() error {
-	pw, err := png.InitPlaywrightWithPrompt()
+	pw, err := png.InitPlaywrightWithPrompt("chromium")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/d2cli/watch.go b/d2cli/watch.go
index 3e3db95b99..7cfc8d4b15 100644
--- a/d2cli/watch.go
+++ b/d2cli/watch.go
@@ -43,23 +43,24 @@ var devMode = false
 var staticFS embed.FS
 
 type watcherOpts struct {
-	layout          *string
-	plugins         []d2plugin.Plugin
-	renderOpts      d2svg.RenderOpts
-	animateInterval int64
-	host            string
-	port            string
-	inputPath       string
-	outputPath      string
-	boardPath       string
-	pwd             string
-	bundle          bool
-	forceAppendix   bool
-	pw              png.Playwright
-	fontFamily      *d2fonts.FontFamily
-	monoFontFamily  *d2fonts.FontFamily
-	outputFormat    exportExtension
-	asciiMode       string
+	layout            *string
+	plugins           []d2plugin.Plugin
+	renderOpts        d2svg.RenderOpts
+	animateInterval   int64
+	host              string
+	port              string
+	inputPath         string
+	outputPath        string
+	boardPath         string
+	pwd               string
+	bundle            bool
+	forceAppendix     bool
+	pw                png.Playwright
+	fontFamily        *d2fonts.FontFamily
+	monoFontFamily    *d2fonts.FontFamily
+	outputFormat      exportExtension
+	asciiMode         string
+	playwrightBrowser string
 }
 
 type watcher struct {
diff --git a/lib/png/png.go b/lib/png/png.go
index 020826dc7c..4a5dc7640d 100644
--- a/lib/png/png.go
+++ b/lib/png/png.go
@@ -77,10 +77,15 @@ func startPlaywright(pw *playwright.Playwright) (Playwright, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func InitPlaywright() (Playwright, error) {
+func InitPlaywright(playwrightBrowser string) (Playwright, error) {
+
+	if playwrightBrowser == "" {
+		playwrightBrowser = "chromium"
+	}
+
 	err := playwright.Install(&playwright.RunOptions{
 		Verbose:  false,
-		Browsers: []string{"chromium"},
+		Browsers: []string{playwrightBrowser},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return Playwright{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to install Playwright: %w", err)
@@ -93,13 +98,16 @@ func InitPlaywright() (Playwright, error) {
 	return startPlaywright(pw)
 }
 
-func InitPlaywrightWithPrompt() (Playwright, error) {
+func InitPlaywrightWithPrompt(playwrightBrowser string) (Playwright, error) {
 	if os.Getenv("CI") != "" {
-		return InitPlaywright()
+		return InitPlaywright("")
 	}
 
 	// Just try running first. This only works if drivers and browsers are already installed
-	pw, err := playwright.Run()
+	pw, err := playwright.Run(
+		&playwright.RunOptions{
+			Browsers: []string{playwrightBrowser},
+		})
 	if err == nil {
 		return startPlaywright(pw)
 	}
@@ -115,7 +123,7 @@ func InitPlaywrightWithPrompt() (Playwright, error) {
 		return Playwright{}, fmt.Errorf("chromium installation cancelled by user")
 	}
 
-	return InitPlaywright()
+	return InitPlaywright(playwrightBrowser)
 }
 
 const pngPrefix = "data:image/png;base64,"