diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 770c46fc..397b12ea 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([libevent-regress],
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([function-sections],
      AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-function-sections, make static library allow smaller binaries with --gc-sections]),
 	[], [enable_function_sections=no])
-AC_ARG_ENABLE(event-debugging,
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([verbose-debug],
 		AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-verbose-debug, verbose debug logging]),
 	[], [enable_verbose_debug=no])