diff --git a/application.c b/application.c
index da2d160..42b85e0 100644
--- a/application.c
+++ b/application.c
@@ -67,7 +67,12 @@ size_t putc(char c)
 	return length; // return number of characters printed
 }
 
-// menu commands
+// only print when debug is enabled
+#if DEBUG
+#define puts_debug(x) puts(x)
+#else
+#define puts_debug(x) {}
+#endif
 
 /** display available commands
  *  @param[in] argument no argument required
@@ -404,7 +409,7 @@ void main(void)
 #endif
 
 	// setup RTC
-	puts("setup RTC: ");
+	puts_debug("setup RTC: ");
 	rcc_periph_clock_enable(RCC_RTC); // enable clock for RTC peripheral
 	if (!(RCC_BDCR && RCC_BDCR_RTCEN)) { // the RTC has not been configured yet
 		pwr_disable_backup_domain_write_protect(); // disable backup protection so we can set the RTC clock source
@@ -425,10 +430,10 @@ void main(void)
 		pwr_enable_backup_domain_write_protect(); // re-enable protection now that we configured the RTC clock
 	}
 	boot_time = rtc_to_seconds(); // remember the start time
-	puts("OK\n");
+	puts_debug("OK\n");
 
 	// setup wakeup timer for periodic checks
-	puts("setup wakeup: ");
+	puts_debug("setup wakeup: ");
 	// RTC needs to be configured beforehand
 	pwr_disable_backup_domain_write_protect(); // disable backup protection so we can write to the RTC registers
 	rtc_unlock(); // enable writing RTC registers
@@ -441,7 +446,7 @@ void main(void)
 	rtc_enable_wakeup_timer_interrupt(); // enable interrupt
 	rtc_lock(); // disable writing RTC registers
 	// important: do not re-enable backup_domain_write_protect, since this will prevent clearing flags (but RTC registers do not need to be unlocked)
-	puts("OK\n");
+	puts_debug("OK\n");
 
 	// setup terminal
 	terminal_prefix = ""; // set default prefix