diff --git a/config/main.go b/config/main.go
index d5b0d4a..2b4b997 100644
--- a/config/main.go
+++ b/config/main.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ func Init() {
 		GlobalParams = append(GlobalParams, p)
 		log.Infof("loaded config param: %s: %s", quote(p.Key), quote(p.Val))
 	}
-
 	for _, s := range switches {
 		GlobalSwitches = append(GlobalSwitches, s)
 		log.Infof("loaded config switch: %s: %t", quote(s.Key), s.Val)
diff --git a/config/switch.go b/config/switch.go
index e16d4d5..0a2f6f8 100644
--- a/config/switch.go
+++ b/config/switch.go
@@ -17,11 +17,6 @@ var switches = []*Switch{
 		Val:   true,
 		Label: "Enable Status Header",
 	},
-	&Switch{
-		Key:   "loggingEnabled",
-		Val:   false,
-		Label: "Enable Logging Server",
-	},
 }
 
 type Switch struct {
diff --git a/logging/main.go b/logging/main.go
index cea31b0..68b49b2 100644
--- a/logging/main.go
+++ b/logging/main.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package logging
 
 import (
+	"os"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/op/go-logging"
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ const (
 var (
 	Log    *CTopLogger
 	exited bool
-	level  = logging.INFO
+	level  = logging.INFO // default level
 	format = logging.MustStringFormatter(
 		`%{color}%{time:15:04:05.000} ▶ %{level:.4s} %{id:03x}%{color:reset} %{message}`,
 	)
@@ -33,6 +34,11 @@ func Init() *CTopLogger {
 			logging.NewMemoryBackend(size),
 		}
 
+		if debugMode() {
+			level = logging.DEBUG
+			StartServer()
+		}
+
 		backendLvl := logging.AddModuleLevel(Log.backend)
 		backendLvl.SetLevel(level, "")
 
@@ -71,3 +77,5 @@ func (log *CTopLogger) Exit() {
 	exited = true
 	StopServer()
 }
+
+func debugMode() bool { return os.Getenv("CTOP_DEBUG") == "1" }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 1fc849a..8c28299 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ var (
 func main() {
 	defer panicExit()
 
-	// init global config
-	config.Init()
-
 	// parse command line arguments
 	var versionFlag = flag.Bool("v", false, "output version information and exit")
 	var helpFlag = flag.Bool("h", false, "display this help dialog")
@@ -48,6 +45,12 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 
+	// init logger
+	log = logging.Init()
+
+	// init global config
+	config.Init()
+
 	// override default config values with command line flags
 	if *filterFlag != "" {
 		config.Update("filterStr", *filterFlag)
@@ -66,12 +69,6 @@ func main() {
 		config.Toggle("sortReversed")
 	}
 
-	// init logger
-	log = logging.Init()
-	if config.GetSwitchVal("loggingEnabled") {
-		logging.StartServer()
-	}
-
 	// init ui
 	if *invertFlag {
 		InvertColorMap()