diff --git a/server/raft.go b/server/raft.go
index a1c17c62..6825462e 100644
--- a/server/raft.go
+++ b/server/raft.go
@@ -563,11 +563,10 @@ func (s *Server) lookupRaftNode(group string) RaftNode {
 	return n
 }
 
-func (s *Server) reloadDebugRaftNodes() {
+func (s *Server) reloadDebugRaftNodes(debug bool) {
 	if s == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	debug := atomic.LoadInt32(&s.logging.debug) > 0
 	s.rnMu.RLock()
 	for _, ni := range s.raftNodes {
 		n := ni.(*raft)
diff --git a/server/reload.go b/server/reload.go
index 7058417f..e498c6ae 100644
--- a/server/reload.go
+++ b/server/reload.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright 2017-2022 The NATS Authors
+// Copyright 2017-2023 The NATS Authors
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 // you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 // You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ type debugOption struct {
 // However we will kick the raft nodes if they exist to reload.
 func (d *debugOption) Apply(server *Server) {
 	server.Noticef("Reloaded: debug = %v", d.newValue)
-	server.reloadDebugRaftNodes()
+	server.reloadDebugRaftNodes(d.newValue)
 }
 
 // logtimeOption implements the option interface for the `logtime` setting.