diff --git a/boot.js b/boot.js
index 54e1f03..348e2af 100644
--- a/boot.js
+++ b/boot.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const {
 } = require('./lib/errors')
 const TimeTree = require('./time-tree')
 const Plugin = require('./plugin')
-const debug = require('debug')('avvio')
+const { debug } = require('./lib/debug')
 const kAvvio = Symbol('kAvvio')
 const kThenifyDoNotWrap = Symbol('kThenifyDoNotWrap')
 
diff --git a/lib/debug.js b/lib/debug.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4519ad5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/debug.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+'use strict'
+
+const { debuglog } = require('util')
+
+module.exports = {
+  debug: debuglog('avvio')
+}
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d188972..fd09c44 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "archy": "^1.0.0",
-    "debug": "^4.0.0",
     "fastq": "^1.6.1"
   }
 }
diff --git a/plugin.js b/plugin.js
index dfb3490..da3380f 100644
--- a/plugin.js
+++ b/plugin.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 const fastq = require('fastq')
 const EE = require('events').EventEmitter
 const inherits = require('util').inherits
-const debug = require('debug')('avvio')
+const { debug } = require('./lib/debug')
 const { AVV_ERR_READY_TIMEOUT } = require('./lib/errors')
 
 // this symbol is assigned by fastify-plugin