diff --git a/src/mainwindow.cpp b/src/mainwindow.cpp
index e04ad2c..3a5113a 100755
--- a/src/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -2045,18 +2045,28 @@ void MainWindow::setupDebugLogTab() {
 
     ui->debugLog->setPlainText( readDebugLines() );
 
-    // Set up timer
-    QTimer* debugTimer = new QTimer();
-    QObject::connect(debugTimer, &QTimer::timeout, [=]() {
-        uint32_t debugLines = ui->debugLines->text().trimmed().toInt();
-        if (debugLines == 0) { debugLines = 50; }
-        ui->debugLog->setPlainText( readDebugLines(debugLines) );
-        DEBUG("Refreshed debug data with debugLines=" << debugLines);
+    QObject::connect(ui->debugAuto, &QCheckBox::stateChanged, [=](auto checked) {
+        if(checked) {
+            QTimer* debugTimer = new QTimer();
+            DEBUG("debugAuto checkbox checked");
+            // Set up timer
+            QObject::connect(debugTimer, &QTimer::timeout, [=]() {
+                uint32_t debugLines = ui->debugLines->text().trimmed().toInt();
+                if (debugLines == 0) { debugLines = 50; }
+                ui->debugLog->setPlainText( readDebugLines(debugLines) );
+                DEBUG("Refreshed debug data with debugLines=" << debugLines);
+            });
+            //TODO: allow customizing refresh speed
+            uint32_t debugRefreshSpeed = 30*1000;
+            debugTimer->start(debugRefreshSpeed);
+            DEBUG("started debug refresh at speed=" << debugRefreshSpeed); //Settings::debugRefreshSpeed;
+        } else {
+            DEBUG("debugAuto checkbox unchecked");
+            //TODO: store debugTimer in class so we can access it here and stop it
+            // debugTimer->stop();
+        }
     });
-    //TODO: allow customizing refresh speed
-    uint32_t debugRefreshSpeed = 30*1000;
-    debugTimer->start(debugRefreshSpeed);
-    DEBUG("started debug refresh at speed=" << debugRefreshSpeed); //Settings::debugRefreshSpeed;
+
 }
 
 void MainWindow::setupPeersTab() {
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.ui b/src/mainwindow.ui
index 242e94b..9b88ada 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.ui
+++ b/src/mainwindow.ui
@@ -1183,13 +1183,16 @@
         </item>
 
         <item row="0" column="3">
-            <widget class="QCheckbox" name="debugAuto">
+            <widget class="QCheckBox" name="debugAuto">
                <property name="text">
                 <string>Auto refresh</string>
                </property>
                       <property name="enabled">
                        <bool>false</bool>
                       </property>
+                      <property name="checkable">
+                       <bool>true</bool>
+                      </property>
             </widget>
         </item>