diff --git a/lib/config.cpp b/lib/config.cpp
index 4ea1b31b..d341f3aa 100644
--- a/lib/config.cpp
+++ b/lib/config.cpp
@@ -34,9 +34,21 @@
 #include <dirent.h> //for getMyExec
 
 bool Util::Config::is_active = false;
+unsigned int Util::Config::printDebugLevel = DEBUG;//
 std::string Util::Config::libver = PACKAGE_VERSION;
 
-Util::Config::Config(){}
+Util::Config::Config(){
+  //global options here
+  vals["debug"]["long"] = "debug";
+  vals["debug"]["short"] = "g";
+  vals["debug"]["arg"] = "integer";
+  vals["debug"]["help"] = "The debug level at which messages need to be printed.";
+  vals["debug"]["value"].append((long long)DEBUG);
+  /*capabilities["optional"]["debug level"]["name"] = "debug";
+  capabilities["optional"]["debug level"]["help"] = "The debug level at which messages need to be printed.";
+  capabilities["optional"]["debug level"]["option"] = "--debug";
+  capabilities["optional"]["debug level"]["type"] = "integer";*/
+}
 
 /// Creates a new configuration manager.
 Util::Config::Config(std::string cmd, std::string version){
@@ -51,6 +63,11 @@ Util::Config::Config(std::string cmd, std::string version){
   vals["help"]["help"] = "Display usage and version information, then exit.";
   vals["version"]["value"].append((std::string)PACKAGE_VERSION);
   vals["version"]["value"].append(version);
+  vals["debug"]["long"] = "debug";
+  vals["debug"]["short"] = "g";
+  vals["debug"]["arg"] = "integer";
+  vals["debug"]["help"] = "The debug level at which messages need to be printed.";
+  vals["debug"]["value"].append((long long)DEBUG);  
 }
 
 /// Adds an option to the configuration parser.
@@ -265,6 +282,7 @@ bool Util::Config::parseArgs(int & argc, char ** & argv){
   if (long_i <= arg_count){
     return false;
   }
+  printDebugLevel = getInteger("debug");
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -512,6 +530,8 @@ void Util::Config::addBasicConnectorOptions(JSON::Value & capabilities){
   addOption("json", option);
 }
 
+
+
 /// Gets directory the current executable is stored in.
 std::string Util::getMyPath(){
   char mypath[500];
diff --git a/lib/config.h b/lib/config.h
index 1609efe7..984e7ae4 100644
--- a/lib/config.h
+++ b/lib/config.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ namespace Util {
       //variables
       static std::string libver; ///< Version number of the library as a string.
       static bool is_active; ///< Set to true by activate(), set to false by the signal handler.
+      static unsigned int printDebugLevel;
       //functions
       Config();
       Config(std::string cmd, std::string version);
diff --git a/lib/defines.h b/lib/defines.h
index 29c2353f..50afdae9 100644
--- a/lib/defines.h
+++ b/lib/defines.h
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 // Defines to print debug messages.
+#ifndef MIST_DEBUG
+#define MIST_DEBUG 1
 #define DLVL_NONE      0 // All debugging disabled.
 #define DLVL_FAIL      1 // Only messages about failed operations.
 #define DLVL_ERROR     2 // Only messages about errors and failed operations.
@@ -10,10 +12,13 @@
 #define DLVL_EXTREME   8 // Everything is reported in extreme detail.
 #define DLVL_INSANE    9 // Everything is reported in insane detail.
 #define DLVL_DONTEVEN 10 // All messages enabled, even pointless ones.
-#if DEBUG > 0
+#if DEBUG > -1
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
-#define DEBUG_MSG(lvl, msg, ...) if (DEBUG >= lvl){fprintf(stderr, "[%d][%s:%d] " msg "\n", getpid(), __FILE__, __LINE__, ##__VA_ARGS__);}
+#include "config.h"
+static const char* DBG_LVL_LIST[] = {"NONE","FAIL","ERROR","WARN","DEVEL","MEDIUM","HIGH","VERYHIGH","EXTREME","INSANE","DONTEVEN"};
+#define DEBUG_MSG(lvl, msg, ...) if (Util::Config::printDebugLevel >= lvl){fprintf(stderr, "%s [%d][%s:%d] " msg "\n", DBG_LVL_LIST[lvl],getpid(), __FILE__, __LINE__, ##__VA_ARGS__);}
 #else
 #define DEBUG_MSG(lvl, msg, ...) // Debugging disabled.
 #endif
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file