diff --git a/docs/settings.rst b/docs/settings.rst
index c1da7db6..6f695f90 100644
--- a/docs/settings.rst
+++ b/docs/settings.rst
@@ -787,6 +787,8 @@ possible to unintentionally filter out multiple message types with the same
 template (including messages from future Pelican versions). Proceed with
 caution.
 
+Note: This option does nothing ``--debug`` is passed.
+
 .. _reading_only_modified_content:
 
 
diff --git a/pelican/log.py b/pelican/log.py
index 907981eb..fe14a29b 100644
--- a/pelican/log.py
+++ b/pelican/log.py
@@ -112,12 +112,12 @@ class LimitFilter(logging.Filter):
         else:
             self._raised_messages.add(message_key)
 
-        # ignore LOG_FILTER records
-        # use .msg and not .getMessage() for string formatting to allow
-        # filtering by templates
-        ignore_key = (record.levelno, record.msg)
-        if ignore_key in self._ignore:
-            return False
+        # ignore LOG_FILTER records by templates when "debug" isn't enabled
+        logger_level = logging.getLogger().getEffectiveLevel()
+        if logger_level > logging.DEBUG:
+            ignore_key = (record.levelno, record.msg)
+            if ignore_key in self._ignore:
+                return False
 
         # check if we went over threshold
         if group: