diff --git a/src/accessor/grib_accessor_class_ascii.cc b/src/accessor/grib_accessor_class_ascii.cc
index 6fa3f4cbc..71ae3f37b 100644
--- a/src/accessor/grib_accessor_class_ascii.cc
+++ b/src/accessor/grib_accessor_class_ascii.cc
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ int grib_accessor_ascii_t::unpack_long(long* v, size_t* len)
 
     *v = strtol(val, &last, 10);
 
-    grib_context_log(this->context_, GRIB_LOG_DEBUG, " Casting string %s to long", name_);
+    grib_context_log(this->context_, GRIB_LOG_DEBUG, "Casting string %s to long", name_);
     return GRIB_SUCCESS;
 }
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ int grib_accessor_ascii_t::unpack_double(double* v, size_t* len)
     *v = strtod(val, &last);
 
     if (*last == 0) {
-        grib_context_log(this->context_, GRIB_LOG_DEBUG, " Casting string %s to long", name_);
+        grib_context_log(this->context_, GRIB_LOG_DEBUG, "Casting string %s to long", name_);
         return GRIB_SUCCESS;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/accessor/grib_accessor_class_group.cc b/src/accessor/grib_accessor_class_group.cc
index 9a3841683..2b98e6b46 100644
--- a/src/accessor/grib_accessor_class_group.cc
+++ b/src/accessor/grib_accessor_class_group.cc
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ int grib_accessor_group_t::unpack_long(long* v, size_t* len)
 
     *v = strtol(val, &last, 10);
 
-    grib_context_log(context_, GRIB_LOG_DEBUG, " Casting string %s to long", name_);
+    grib_context_log(context_, GRIB_LOG_DEBUG, "Casting string %s to long", name_);
     return GRIB_SUCCESS;
 }
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ int grib_accessor_group_t::unpack_double(double* v, size_t* len)
     *v = strtod(val, &last);
 
     if (*last == 0) {
-        grib_context_log(context_, GRIB_LOG_DEBUG, " Casting string %s to long", name_);
+        grib_context_log(context_, GRIB_LOG_DEBUG, "Casting string %s to long", name_);
         return GRIB_SUCCESS;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/grib_context.cc b/src/grib_context.cc
index 17adcc312..e600681ab 100644
--- a/src/grib_context.cc
+++ b/src/grib_context.cc
@@ -547,6 +547,7 @@ grib_context* grib_context_get_default()
 #endif
 
         if (default_grib_context.debug) {
+            fprintf(stderr, "ECCODES DEBUG ecCodes Version:  %s\n", ECCODES_VERSION_STR);
             fprintf(stderr, "ECCODES DEBUG Definitions path: %s\n", default_grib_context.grib_definition_files_path);
             fprintf(stderr, "ECCODES DEBUG Samples path:     %s\n", default_grib_context.grib_samples_path);
         }