diff --git a/servers/slapd/main.c b/servers/slapd/main.c
index f729ec6377..a909228d62 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/main.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/main.c
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ int main( int argc, char **argv )
 		}
 	}
 
+	lutil_set_debug_level( "slapd", slap_debug );
 	ber_set_option(NULL, LBER_OPT_DEBUG_LEVEL, &slap_debug);
 	ldap_set_option(NULL, LDAP_OPT_DEBUG_LEVEL, &slap_debug);
 	ldif_debug = slap_debug;