diff --git a/mp_msg.c b/mp_msg.c
index 02ff5cc69c..7f522aeb78 100644
--- a/mp_msg.c
+++ b/mp_msg.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ extern int use_gui;
 /* maximum message length of mp_msg */
 #define MSGSIZE_MAX 3072
 
-int mp_msg_levels[MSGT_MAX]; // verbose level of this module. inited to 2
+int mp_msg_levels[MSGT_MAX]; // verbose level of this module. inited to -2
 int mp_msg_level_all = MSGL_STATUS;
 int verbose = 0;