diff --git a/dr.botzo.cfg b/dr.botzo.cfg
index 87e2c3f..dacfc90 100644
--- a/dr.botzo.cfg
+++ b/dr.botzo.cfg
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 [IRC]
 server = irc.foonetic.net
 port = 6667
-channel = #lh
+channel = #bss
 nick = dr_devzo
 name = dr. devzo
+debug = true
diff --git a/dr.botzo.py b/dr.botzo.py
index 3e30534..ea552ea 100755
--- a/dr.botzo.py
+++ b/dr.botzo.py
@@ -23,9 +23,10 @@ def on_connect(connection, event):
 
 # read config file
 
-config = ConfigParser()
+config = ConfigParser({'debug': 'false'})
 config.read([os.path.expanduser('~/.dr.botzo.cfg'), 'dr.botzo.cfg'])
 
+# load necessary options
 try:
     # load connection info
     server  = config.get('IRC', 'server')
@@ -38,6 +39,9 @@ except NoSectionError as e:
 except NoOptionError as e:
     sys.exit("Aborted due to error with necessary configuration: " + str(e))
 
+# load additional options
+irclib.DEBUG = config.getboolean('IRC', 'debug')
+
 # start up the IRC bot
 
 # create IRC and server objects and connect