diff --git a/smallapp/unbound-host.c b/smallapp/unbound-host.c
index 470fd7eac..d46c753fb 100644
--- a/smallapp/unbound-host.c
+++ b/smallapp/unbound-host.c
@@ -440,7 +440,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 			debuglevel++;
 			if(debuglevel < 2) 
 				debuglevel = 2; /* at least VERB_DETAIL */
-			check_ub_res(ub_ctx_debuglevel(ctx, debuglevel));
 			break;
 		case 'r':
 			check_ub_res(ub_ctx_resolvconf(ctx, "/etc/resolv.conf"));
@@ -466,6 +465,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 			usage();
 		}
 	}
+	if(debuglevel != 0) /* set after possible -C options */
+		check_ub_res(ub_ctx_debuglevel(ctx, debuglevel));
 	argc -= optind;
 	argv += optind;
 	if(argc != 1)