diff --git a/bin/doom b/bin/doom
index a0d91ab91..3dda9e642 100755
--- a/bin/doom
+++ b/bin/doom
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ SEE ALSO:
     (let (omit)
       (when debug?
         (setenv "DEBUG" "1")
-        (print! (item "Debug mode enabled"))
+        (setq init-file-debug t)
         (push "--debug" omit))
       (when profile
         (setenv "DOOMPROFILE" profile)
diff --git a/core/core-cli.el b/core/core-cli.el
index a83fb43bc..86f3ed9ab 100644
--- a/core/core-cli.el
+++ b/core/core-cli.el
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@
 
 ;; Ensure errors are sufficiently detailed from this point on.
 (setq debug-on-error t)
+;; Be more verbose if debug mode is on.
+(when (setq init-file-debug (getenv "DEBUG"))
+  (message "Debug mode enabled"))
 
 ;;; Initialize profile
 (let ((profile (getenv "DOOMPROFILE")))
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@
 
 ;; HACK Load `cl' and site files manually to prevent polluting logs and stdout
 ;;      with deprecation and/or file load messages.
-(let ((inhibit-message (not (or (getenv "DEBUG") init-file-debug))))
+(let ((inhibit-message (not init-file-debug)))
   (require 'cl)
   (unless site-run-file
     (let ((site-run-file "site-start")