diff --git a/lib/msg_log.cpp b/lib/msg_log.cpp
index cde85561a8..22977d8ce3 100644
--- a/lib/msg_log.cpp
+++ b/lib/msg_log.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ using std::string;
 // See sched/sched_msg_log.C and client/client_msg_log.C for those classes.
 
 MSG_LOG::MSG_LOG(FILE* output_) {
+    debug_level = 0;
     output = output_;
     indent_level = 0;
     spaces[0] = 0;