diff --git a/Makefile.common b/Makefile.common
index 4bdf72a..4b1031c 100644
--- a/Makefile.common
+++ b/Makefile.common
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 LIBPATHS = $(OBJ_DIR)
 PROTOCOL_DIR = $(OBJ_DIR)/protocols/
 
-DEFINES := VERSION="\"0.0.2\"" BUILD_DATE="\"$(shell date +"%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")\""
-
+DEBUG_ENABLED ?= false
+DEFINES := VERSION="\"0.0.2\"" \
+		BUILD_DATE="\"$(shell date +"%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")\"" \
+		DEBUG_ENABLED=$(DEBUG_ENABLED)
diff --git a/protocols/purple/PurpleApp.cpp b/protocols/purple/PurpleApp.cpp
index 6705c9a..ad5e4e7 100644
--- a/protocols/purple/PurpleApp.cpp
+++ b/protocols/purple/PurpleApp.cpp
@@ -873,6 +873,8 @@ init_libpurple()
 	purple_plugins_add_finddir(B_USER_NONPACKAGED_LIB_DIRECTORY);
 	purple_plugins_add_finddir(B_SYSTEM_NONPACKAGED_LIB_DIRECTORY);
 
+	purple_debug_set_enabled(DEBUG_ENABLED);
+
 	if (!purple_core_init(PURPLE_UI_ID))
 		return B_ERROR;