diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index d30461a..d3070a9 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -279,6 +279,9 @@ INSTANCE_FLAG_VISIBLE = _flag(1)
 BATCH_MAX_SIZE = 65536
 
 render_initialize = _engine.rk_render_initialize
+render_initialize.argtypes = (
+    ctypes.c_bool,) # debug
+
 render_terminate = _engine.rk_render_terminate
 
 _load_shader = _engine.rk_load_shader
diff --git a/cpp/render.hpp b/cpp/render.hpp
index a629b76..c33de92 100644
--- a/cpp/render.hpp
+++ b/cpp/render.hpp
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ union rk_mesh {
     };
 };
 
-RK_EXPORT void rk_render_initialize();
+RK_EXPORT void rk_render_initialize(
+    rk_bool debug);
 
 RK_EXPORT void rk_render_terminate();
 
diff --git a/cpp/render/render_opengles.cpp b/cpp/render/render_opengles.cpp
index 11404a7..1fe9ba2 100644
--- a/cpp/render/render_opengles.cpp
+++ b/cpp/render/render_opengles.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ static void rk_debug_message_callback(
     printf("[GL] (id=%d) %s\n", id, message);
 }
 
-void rk_render_initialize() {
+void rk_render_initialize(
+    rk_bool debug) {
     GLubyte const * const vendor = glGetString(GL_VENDOR);
     GLubyte const * const renderer = glGetString(GL_RENDERER);
     printf("[GL] vendor: %s, renderer: %s\n", vendor, renderer);
@@ -57,8 +58,10 @@ void rk_render_initialize() {
     GLubyte const * const language = glGetString(GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION);
     printf("[GL] version: %s, language: %s\n", version, language);
 
-    glDebugMessageCallback(rk_debug_message_callback, nullptr);
-    glEnable(GL_DEBUG_OUTPUT);
+    if (debug) {
+        glDebugMessageCallback(rk_debug_message_callback, nullptr);
+        glEnable(GL_DEBUG_OUTPUT);
+    }
 
     char const * const gl_exts = reinterpret_cast<char const *>(glGetString(GL_EXTENSIONS));
     // printf("[GL] %s\n", gl_exts);