diff --git a/boot.js b/boot.js
index fa1c77afeb..de34d02e38 100644
--- a/boot.js
+++ b/boot.js
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ module.exports = function (cb) {
   var config = {}
   var overrides = {}
 
+  module.exports.debug = args.debug
+
   // 1. load conf overrides file if present
   if(!_.isUndefined(args.conf)){
     try {
diff --git a/commands/trade.js b/commands/trade.js
index 4d5af3eada..edb64984b6 100644
--- a/commands/trade.js
+++ b/commands/trade.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ var tb = require('timebucket')
   , objectifySelector = require('../lib/objectify-selector')
   , engineFactory = require('../lib/engine')
   , collectionService = require('../lib/services/collection-service')
+  , debug = require('../lib/debug')
 
 module.exports = function (program, conf) {
   program
@@ -519,8 +520,8 @@ module.exports = function (program, conf) {
                         console.log('\nDumping statistics...'.grey)
                         toggleStats()
                       } else if (key === 'L' && !info.ctrl) {
-                        so.debug = !so.debug
-                        console.log('\nDEBUG mode: ' + (so.debug ? 'ON'.green.inverse : 'OFF'.red.inverse))
+                        debug.flip()
+                        console.log('\nDEBUG mode: ' + (debug.on ? 'ON'.green.inverse : 'OFF'.red.inverse))
                       } else if (info.name === 'c' && info.ctrl) {
                         // @todo: cancel open orders before exit
                         console.log()
diff --git a/lib/debug.js b/lib/debug.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ac2cbebea1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/debug.js
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+const boot = require('../boot')
+const moment = require('moment')
+
+let debug = boot.debug
+module.exports = {
+  flip: function() {
+    module.exports.on = debug = !debug
+  },
+  msg: function(str) {
+    if (debug) {
+      console.error('\n' + moment().format('YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss') + ' - ' + str)
+    }
+  },
+  on: debug
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/engine.js b/lib/engine.js
index d143ddecca..8b3284ecfd 100644
--- a/lib/engine.js
+++ b/lib/engine.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ let tb = require('timebucket')
   , async = require('async')
   , lolex = require('lolex')
   , { formatAsset, formatPercent, formatCurrency } = require('./format')
+  , debug = require('./debug')
 
 let clock
 let nice_errors = new RegExp(/(slippage protection|loss protection)/)
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
   }
 
   function memDump () {
-    if (!so.debug) return
+    if (!debug.on) return
     let s_copy = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(s))
     delete s_copy.options.mongo
     delete s_copy.lookback
@@ -110,12 +111,6 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
     }
   }
 
-  function msg (str) {
-    if (so.debug) {
-      console.error('\n' + moment().format('YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss') + ' - ' + str)
-    }
-  }
-
   var notifier = notify(conf)
 
   function pushMessage(title, message) {
@@ -263,7 +258,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
 
     order.product_id = s.product_id
     order.post_only = conf.post_only
-    msg('placing ' + type + ' order...')
+    debug.msg('placing ' + type + ' order...')
     let order_copy = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(order))
     s.exchange[type](order_copy, function (err, api_order) {
       if (err) return cb(err)
@@ -271,24 +266,24 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
       if (api_order.status === 'rejected') {
         if (api_order.reject_reason === 'post only') {
           // trigger immediate price adjustment and re-order
-          msg('post-only ' + type + ' failed, re-ordering')
+          debug.msg('post-only ' + type + ' failed, re-ordering')
           return cb(null, null)
         }
         else if (api_order.reject_reason === 'balance') {
           // treat as a no-op.
-          msg('not enough balance for ' + type + ', aborting')
+          debug.msg('not enough balance for ' + type + ', aborting')
           return cb(null, false)
         }
         else if (api_order.reject_reason === 'price') {
           // treat as a no-op.
-          msg('invalid price for ' + type + ', aborting')
+          debug.msg('invalid price for ' + type + ', aborting')
           return cb(null, false)
         }
         err = new Error('\norder rejected')
         err.order = api_order
         return cb(err)
       }
-      msg(type + ' order placed at ' + formatCurrency(order.price, s.currency))
+      debug.msg(type + ' order placed at ' + formatCurrency(order.price, s.currency))
       order.order_id = api_order.id
       if (!order.time) {
         order.orig_time = new Date(api_order.created_at).getTime()
@@ -355,7 +350,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
     }
     syncBalance(function (err, { quote }) {
       if (err) {
-        msg('error getting balance')
+        debug.msg('error getting balance')
       }
       let reorder_pct, fee, trade_balance, tradeable_balance, expected_fee
       if (err) {
@@ -368,7 +363,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
         } else {
           reorder_pct = n(size).divide(s.balance.asset).multiply(100)
         }
-        msg('price changed, resizing order, ' + reorder_pct + '% remain')
+        debug.msg('price changed, resizing order, ' + reorder_pct + '% remain')
         size = null
       }
       if (s.my_prev_trades.length) {
@@ -404,7 +399,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
           if (s.product.max_size && Number(size) > Number(s.product.max_size)) {
             size = s.product.max_size
           }
-          msg('preparing buy order over ' + formatAsset(size, s.asset) + ' of ' + formatCurrency(tradeable_balance, s.currency) + ' (' + buy_pct + '%) tradeable balance with a expected fee of ' + formatCurrency(expected_fee, s.currency) + ' (' + fee + '%)')
+          debug.msg('preparing buy order over ' + formatAsset(size, s.asset) + ' of ' + formatCurrency(tradeable_balance, s.currency) + ' (' + buy_pct + '%) tradeable balance with a expected fee of ' + formatCurrency(expected_fee, s.currency) + ' (' + fee + '%)')
           let latest_low_sell = _.chain(trades).dropRightWhile(['type','buy']).takeRightWhile(['type','sell']).sortBy(['price']).head().value() // return lowest price
           let buy_loss = latest_low_sell ? (latest_low_sell.price - Number(price)) / latest_low_sell.price * -100 : null
           if (so.max_buy_loss_pct != null && buy_loss > so.max_buy_loss_pct) {
@@ -422,7 +417,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
               }
             }
             if (n(s.balance.deposit).subtract(s.balance.currency_hold || 0).value() < n(price).multiply(size).value() && s.balance.currency_hold > 0) {
-              msg('buy delayed: ' + formatPercent(n(s.balance.currency_hold || 0).divide(s.balance.deposit).value()) + ' of funds (' + formatCurrency(s.balance.currency_hold, s.currency) + ') on hold')
+              debug.msg('buy delayed: ' + formatPercent(n(s.balance.currency_hold || 0).divide(s.balance.deposit).value()) + ' of funds (' + formatCurrency(s.balance.currency_hold, s.currency) + ') on hold')
               return setTimeout(function () {
                 if (s.last_signal === signal) {
                   executeSignal(signal, cb, size, true)
@@ -470,7 +465,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
               }
             }
             if (n(s.balance.asset).subtract(s.balance.asset_hold || 0).value() < n(size).value()) {
-              msg('sell delayed: ' + formatPercent(n(s.balance.asset_hold || 0).divide(s.balance.asset).value()) + ' of funds (' + formatAsset(s.balance.asset_hold, s.asset) + ') on hold')
+              debug.msg('sell delayed: ' + formatPercent(n(s.balance.asset_hold || 0).divide(s.balance.asset).value()) + ' of funds (' + formatAsset(s.balance.asset_hold, s.asset) + ') on hold')
               return setTimeout(function () {
                 if (s.last_signal === signal) {
                   executeSignal(signal, cb, size, true)
@@ -503,19 +498,19 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
         if (!order) {
           if (order === false) {
             // not enough balance, or signal switched.
-            msg('not enough balance, or signal switched, cancel ' + signal)
+            debug.msg('not enough balance, or signal switched, cancel ' + signal)
             return cb(null, null)
           }
           if (s.last_signal !== signal) {
             // order timed out but a new signal is taking its place
-            msg('signal switched, cancel ' + signal)
+            debug.msg('signal switched, cancel ' + signal)
             return cb(null, null)
           }
           // order timed out and needs adjusting
-          msg(signal + ' order timed out, adjusting price')
+          debug.msg(signal + ' order timed out, adjusting price')
           let remaining_size = s[signal + '_order'] ? s[signal + '_order'].remaining_size : size
           if (remaining_size !== size) {
-            msg('remaining size: ' + remaining_size)
+            debug.msg('remaining size: ' + remaining_size)
           }
           return executeSignal(signal, _cb, remaining_size, true)
         }
@@ -793,7 +788,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
             if (api_order.status === 'done') {
               order.time = new Date(api_order.done_at).getTime()
               order.price = api_order.price || order.price // Use actual price if possible. In market order the actual price (api_order.price) could be very different from trade price
-              msg('cancel failed, order done, executing')
+              debug.msg('cancel failed, order done, executing')
               executeOrder(order, type)
               return syncBalance(function () {
                 cb(null, order)
@@ -812,7 +807,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
 
             if (on_hold && s.balance.currency_hold > 0) {
               // wait a bit for settlement
-              msg('funds on hold after cancel, waiting 5s')
+              debug.msg('funds on hold after cancel, waiting 5s')
               setTimeout(function() { checkHold(do_reorder, cb) }, conf.wait_for_settlement)
             }
             else {
@@ -827,7 +822,7 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
   function checkOrder (order, type, cb) {
     if (!s[type + '_order']) {
       // signal switched, stop checking order
-      msg('signal switched during ' + type + ', aborting')
+      debug.msg('signal switched during ' + type + ', aborting')
       return cancelOrder(order, type, false, cb)
     }
     s.exchange.getOrder({order_id: order.order_id, product_id: s.product_id}, function (err, api_order) {
@@ -844,11 +839,11 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
         })
       }
       if (order.status === 'rejected' && (order.reject_reason === 'post only' || api_order.reject_reason === 'post only')) {
-        msg('post-only ' + type + ' failed, re-ordering')
+        debug.msg('post-only ' + type + ' failed, re-ordering')
         return cb(null, null)
       }
       if (order.status === 'rejected' && order.reject_reason === 'balance') {
-        msg('not enough balance for ' + type + ', aborting')
+        debug.msg('not enough balance for ' + type + ', aborting')
         return cb(null, null)
       }
       if (now() - order.local_time >= so.order_adjust_time) {
@@ -861,11 +856,11 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
           if (type === 'buy') {
             marked_price = nextBuyForQuote(s, quote)
             if (so.exact_buy_orders && n(order.price).value() != marked_price) {
-              msg(marked_price + ' vs! our ' + order.price)
+              debug.msg(marked_price + ' vs! our ' + order.price)
               cancelOrder(order, type, true, cb)
             }
             else if (n(order.price).value() < marked_price) {
-              msg(marked_price + ' vs our ' + order.price)
+              debug.msg(marked_price + ' vs our ' + order.price)
               cancelOrder(order, type, true, cb)
             }
             else {
@@ -876,11 +871,11 @@ module.exports = function (s, conf) {
           else {
             marked_price = nextSellForQuote(s, quote)
             if (so.exact_sell_orders && n(order.price).value() != marked_price) {
-              msg(marked_price + ' vs! our ' + order.price)
+              debug.msg(marked_price + ' vs! our ' + order.price)
               cancelOrder(order, type, true, cb)
             }
             else if (n(order.price).value() > marked_price) {
-              msg(marked_price + ' vs our ' + order.price)
+              debug.msg(marked_price + ' vs our ' + order.price)
               cancelOrder(order, type, true, cb)
             }
             else {