diff --git a/bin/backup b/bin/backup
index 56a6367..d82bc4d 100644
--- a/bin/backup
+++ b/bin/backup
@@ -132,12 +132,20 @@ def parse_cmdline_arguments(**kwargs):
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     args = parse_cmdline_arguments()
 
+    if args.verbose:
+        stdout_handler.setLevel(logging.INFO)
+
+    if args.debug:
+        stdout_handler.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+
     dest = (
         args.repository
         if args.remote_host is None
         else f"{args.remote_host}@{os.getlogin()}:{args.port}{args.repository}"
     )
 
+    syslog.debug(f"Repository destination: {dest}")
+
     try:
         parsed_config = config.parse_configfile()
         repo = Repository(dest)
@@ -147,12 +155,6 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     else:
         script.do_backup(repo, parsed_config, args)
 
-    if args.verbose:
-        stdout_handler.setLevel(logging.INFO)
-
-    if args.debug:
-        stdout_handler.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
-
     if args.run_post_sync:
         syslog.info("Running sync operation")
         os.sync()