diff --git a/src/helper/log.c b/src/helper/log.c
index 8dbdc9471..3acca9a4b 100644
--- a/src/helper/log.c
+++ b/src/helper/log.c
@@ -205,8 +205,6 @@ int handle_debug_level_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, cha
 	else if (argc > 1)
 		return ERROR_COMMAND_SYNTAX_ERROR;
 
-	command_print(cmd_ctx, "debug_level: %i", debug_level);
-
 	if (debug_level >= LOG_LVL_DEBUG && server_use_pipes == 1)
 	{
 		/* if we are enabling debug info then we need to write to a log file
@@ -219,6 +217,8 @@ int handle_debug_level_command(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx, char *cmd, cha
 		}
 	}
 
+	command_print(cmd_ctx, "debug_level: %i", debug_level);
+
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }