diff --git a/account.go b/account.go
index e6a2e3d..da6e854 100644
--- a/account.go
+++ b/account.go
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ func (a *Account) ezbrMessagef(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (a *Account) connect() {
+	log.Printf("Connecting %s %s (%s)", a.MatrixUser, a.AccountName, a.Protocol)
 	ezbrSystemSendf(a.MatrixUser, "Connecting to account %s (%s)", a.AccountName, a.Protocol)
 
 	err := a.Conn.Configure(a.Config)
diff --git a/connector/external/config.go b/connector/external/config.go
index bf2a5f8..03e1feb 100644
--- a/connector/external/config.go
+++ b/connector/external/config.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package external
 
 import (
+	"os"
+
 	. "git.deuxfleurs.fr/Deuxfleurs/easybridge/connector"
 )
 
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ func init() {
 			return &External{
 				protocol: MESSENGER_PROTOCOL,
 				command:  "./external/messenger.py",
-				debug:    true,
+				debug:    (os.Getenv("EASYBRIDGE_MESSENGER_DEBUG") == "true"),
 			}
 		},
 		Schema: ConfigSchema{
diff --git a/connector/external/external.go b/connector/external/external.go
index 553c657..d4a6caf 100644
--- a/connector/external/external.go
+++ b/connector/external/external.go
@@ -152,12 +152,11 @@ func (ext *External) setupProc(generation int) error {
 	if ext.debug {
 		recv = io.TeeReader(recv, os.Stderr)
 		send = io.MultiWriter(send, os.Stderr)
+		ext.proc.Stderr = os.Stderr
 	}
 
 	ext.sendJson = json.NewEncoder(send)
 
-	ext.proc.Stderr = os.Stderr
-
 	err = ext.proc.Start()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -250,7 +249,7 @@ func (ext *External) recvLoop(from io.Reader, generation int) {
 			break
 		}
 
-		log.Debugf("GOT MESSAGE: %#v %#v", msg, msg.Data)
+		log.Tracef("GOT MESSAGE: %#v %#v", msg, msg.Data)
 		if strings.HasPrefix(msg.MsgType, "rep_") {
 			func() {
 				ext.lock.Lock()
diff --git a/external/messenger.py b/external/messenger.py
index 684f7a0..b5dd2d3 100755
--- a/external/messenger.py
+++ b/external/messenger.py
@@ -234,6 +234,8 @@ class MessengerBridge:
 
             self.client.setBridge(self)
 
+            self.my_user_id = self.getUserIdFromUid(self.client.uid)
+
             threads = self.client.fetchThreadList()
             # ensure we have a correct mapping for bridged user IDs to fb uids
             # (this should be fast)
@@ -252,8 +254,7 @@ class MessengerBridge:
             self.close()
 
         elif ty == GET_USER:
-            userId = self.getUserIdFromUid(self.client.uid)
-            return {"_type": REP_OK, "user": userId}
+            return {"_type": REP_OK, "user": self.my_user_id}
 
         elif ty == JOIN:
             self.ensure_i_joined(cmd["room"])