diff --git a/snac.c b/snac.c
index c163649..ed4499d 100644
--- a/snac.c
+++ b/snac.c
@@ -39,13 +39,15 @@ d_char *xs_time(char *fmt, int local)
 }
 
 
-void srv_log(d_char *str)
-/* logs a message */
+void srv_debug(int level, d_char *str)
+/* logs a debug message */
 {
-    xs *tm  = xs_local_time("%H:%M:%S");
     xs *msg = str;
 
-    fprintf(stderr, "%s %s\n", tm, msg);
+    if (dbglevel >= level) {
+        xs *tm = xs_local_time("%H:%M:%S");
+        fprintf(stderr, "%s %s\n", tm, msg);
+    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index d091a7b..ef14425 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ d_char *xs_time(char *fmt, int local);
 #define xs_local_time(fmt) xs_time(fmt, 1)
 #define xs_utc_time(fmt)   xs_time(fmt, 0)
 
-void srv_log(d_char *str);
+void srv_debug(int level, d_char *str);
+#define srv_log(str) srv_debug(0, str)
+
 int srv_open(char *basedir);