diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/ipfs.go b/cmd/ipfs/ipfs.go
index bc5922dd8..fb5b26597 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/ipfs.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/ipfs.go
@@ -86,8 +86,6 @@ func ipfsCmd(c *commander.Command, args []string) error {
 }
 
 func main() {
-	u.Debug = u.GetenvBool("IPFS_DEBUG")
-
 	// if debugging, setup profiling.
 	if u.Debug {
 		ofi, err := os.Create("cpu.prof")
diff --git a/util/log.go b/util/log.go
index b10c9e705..6a66024de 100644
--- a/util/log.go
+++ b/util/log.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func SetupLogging() {
 		}
 	}
 
+	Debug = GetenvBool("IPFS_DEBUG")
 	if Debug {
 		lvl = logging.DEBUG
 	}