diff --git a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
index 97dc798..53c86ec 100644
--- a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
+++ b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
@@ -42,8 +42,11 @@ def log(level, msg):
     print(f"[{_ts()}] {level:5s}  {msg}")
 
 
+_DEBUG = False
+
+
 def info(msg):
-    if _cfg.get("debug", False):
+    if _DEBUG:
         log("INFO", msg)
 
 
@@ -76,6 +79,10 @@ def _load_config():
 
 _cfg = _load_config()
 
+DEBUG = _cfg.get("debug", False)
+global _DEBUG
+_DEBUG = DEBUG
+
 WIFI_SSID = _cfg["wifi_ssid"]
 WIFI_PASSWORD = _cfg["wifi_password"]
 MQTT_BROKER = _cfg["mqtt_broker"]