diff --git a/activity.go b/activity.go
index eab27bd..5d1ce94 100644
--- a/activity.go
+++ b/activity.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"crypto/tls"
 	"database/sql"
 	"fmt"
 	"html"
@@ -56,12 +57,23 @@ func friendorfoe(ct string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+var debugClient = &http.Client{
+	Transport: &http.Transport{
+		TLSClientConfig: &tls.Config{
+			InsecureSkipVerify: true,
+		},
+	},
+}
+
 func PostJunk(keyname string, key httpsig.PrivateKey, url string, j junk.Junk) error {
 	return PostMsg(keyname, key, url, j.ToBytes())
 }
 
 func PostMsg(keyname string, key httpsig.PrivateKey, url string, msg []byte) error {
 	client := http.DefaultClient
+	if debugMode {
+		client = debugClient
+	}
 	req, err := http.NewRequest("POST", url, bytes.NewReader(msg))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/honk.go b/honk.go
index 9bff113..cad4862 100644
--- a/honk.go
+++ b/honk.go
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 	getconfig("usersep", &userSep)
 	getconfig("honksep", &honkSep)
+	getconfig("debug", &debugMode)
 	prepareStatements(db)
 	switch cmd {
 	case "admin":
diff --git a/web.go b/web.go
index 84def27..7cda832 100644
--- a/web.go
+++ b/web.go
@@ -2357,7 +2357,6 @@ func serve() {
 	go bgmonitor()
 	w100 := wait100ms()
 
-	getconfig("debug", &debugMode)
 	readviews = templates.Load(debugMode,
 		viewDir+"/views/honkpage.html",
 		viewDir+"/views/honkfrags.html",