diff --git a/binr/radare2/radare2.c b/binr/radare2/radare2.c
index 054a022259..57981e443c 100644
--- a/binr/radare2/radare2.c
+++ b/binr/radare2/radare2.c
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if (debug) {
 		char file[1024];
 		r_config_set (r.config, "io.va", "false");
+		r_config_set (r.config, "cfg.debug", "true");
 		r.io->va = R_FALSE;
 		strcpy (file, "dbg://");
 		if (optind < argc) {
@@ -152,7 +153,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
 		fh = r_core_file_open (&r, file, perms);
 		// TODO: move into if (debug) ..
-		r_config_set (r.config, "cfg.debug", "true");
 		r_debug_use (r.dbg, "native");
 	} else {
 		if (optind<argc) {
diff --git a/libr/core/file.c b/libr/core/file.c
index 25ad21d6ec..a9ea4a1294 100644
--- a/libr/core/file.c
+++ b/libr/core/file.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ R_API int r_core_bin_load(RCore *r, const char *file) {
 	RBinObj *obj;
 	RListIter *iter;
 	ut64 baddr;
-	int va = r_config_get_i (r->config, "io.va");
+	int va = r->io->va || r->io->debug;
 	int i = 0;
 	char str[R_FLAG_NAME_SIZE];