diff --git a/include/GLDebug.h b/include/GLDebug.h
index eb13bfc..6f02079 100644
--- a/include/GLDebug.h
+++ b/include/GLDebug.h
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ openglDebugCallback(GLenum source,
 	if (id == 131185)
 		return;
 
+#ifdef TANGERINE_GL_DEBUG_QUIET
+	if (type != GL_DEBUG_TYPE_ERROR)
+		return;
+#endif
+
 	std::cout << "message id: " << id << ", "
 		<< ((type == GL_DEBUG_TYPE_ERROR) ? "Error" : "Debug")
 		<< (type == GL_DEBUG_TYPE_ERROR ? "** GL Error **" : "")
diff --git a/include/tangerine.h b/include/tangerine.h
index 7eb2570..34527ef 100644
--- a/include/tangerine.h
+++ b/include/tangerine.h
@@ -86,6 +86,13 @@
 #include "util.h"
 
 
+// NOTE: can set TANGERINE_GL_DEBUG_QUIET in your application to disable extra
+// 	debug messages from openGL
+#ifndef TANGERINE_GL_DEBUG_QUIET
+	#define TANGERINE_GL_DEBUG_NOISY
+#endif
+
+
 struct SDLHandles
 {
 	SDL_Window* window;
@@ -94,9 +101,6 @@ struct SDLHandles
 	u32 SDL_flags;
 };
 
-// TODO: node/tree structure for entities
-struct Node;
-
 struct RenderGroup
 {
 	ShaderProgram* shader;
@@ -106,7 +110,10 @@ struct RenderGroup
 	char* name;
 };
 
+// TODO: node/tree structure for entities
 #if 0
+struct Node;
+
 struct Scene
 {
 	MemoryArena* rg_arena;