diff --git a/src/nemo-desktop-application.c b/src/nemo-desktop-application.c
index ce7e1b83b..59a3f1e26 100644
--- a/src/nemo-desktop-application.c
+++ b/src/nemo-desktop-application.c
@@ -291,8 +291,12 @@ nemo_desktop_application_local_command_line (GApplication *application,
     }
 
     if (debug) {
+#if (GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2,80,0))
         const gchar* const domains[] = { "Nemo", NULL };
         g_log_writer_default_set_debug_domains (domains);
+#else
+        g_setenv ("G_MESSAGES_DEBUG", "all", TRUE);
+#endif
     }
 
     if (nemo_user_is_root () && !nemo_treating_root_as_normal ()) {
diff --git a/src/nemo-main-application.c b/src/nemo-main-application.c
index 241b93e16..676bd9d0d 100644
--- a/src/nemo-main-application.c
+++ b/src/nemo-main-application.c
@@ -717,8 +717,12 @@ nemo_main_application_local_command_line (GApplication *application,
 	}
 
     if (debug) {
+#if (GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2,80,0))
         const gchar* const domains[] = { "Nemo", NULL };
         g_log_writer_default_set_debug_domains (domains);
+#else
+        g_setenv ("G_MESSAGES_DEBUG", "all", TRUE);
+#endif
     }
 
 	if (!do_cmdline_sanity_checks (self, perform_self_check,