diff --git a/userconfig/tools.py b/userconfig/tools.py
index 63d3d24..d83db14 100644
--- a/userconfig/tools.py
+++ b/userconfig/tools.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class Debug:
 def get_config(filename, cfg):
     """reads filename as config, checks for DEST parameter and returns cfgfile object"""
     try:
-        ret = Conf(filename)
+        ret = Conf(filename=filename, debug=cfg.debug, force_filename=True)
     except ValueError:
         cfg.debug.stderr("Error reading config file %s" % filename)
         return False