diff --git a/src/grib_templates.c b/src/grib_templates.c
index a9d03ad6a..6d9fefa88 100644
--- a/src/grib_templates.c
+++ b/src/grib_templates.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static grib_handle* try_template(grib_context* c, const char* dir, const char* n
 
     sprintf(path, "%s/%s.tmpl", dir, name);
 
-    if (c->debug == -1) {
+    if (c->debug) {
         fprintf(stderr, "ECCODES DEBUG: try_template path='%s'\n", path);
     }
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static grib_handle* try_bufr_template(grib_context* c, const char* dir, const ch
 
     sprintf(path, "%s/%s.tmpl", dir, name);
 
-    if (c->debug == -1) {
+    if (c->debug) {
         fprintf(stderr, "ECCODES DEBUG: try_template path='%s'\n", path);
     }