diff --git a/spice_common.h b/spice_common.h
index 51c6a68..f6205a3 100644
--- a/spice_common.h
+++ b/spice_common.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
     if (debug_level == -1) {                                        \
         debug_level = getenv("SPICE_DEBUG_LEVEL") != NULL ? atoi(getenv("SPICE_DEBUG_LEVEL")) : 0;  \
     }                                                               \
-    if (debug >= debug_level) {                                     \
+    if (debug <= debug_level) {                                     \
         printf("%s: " format "\n", __FUNCTION__, ## __VA_ARGS__ );  \
     }                                                               \
 } while(0)