diff --git a/src/eql.cpp b/src/eql.cpp
index 5c6b5a0..7e4e7f7 100644
--- a/src/eql.cpp
+++ b/src/eql.cpp
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ void EQL::exec(const QStringList& args) {
     // -qtpl
     else if(arguments.contains("-qtpl") || (cl_symbol_value(s_qtpl) == Ct)) {
         arguments.removeAll("-qtpl");
+        evalMode = DebugOnError;
         ecl_setq(ecl_process_env(), s_qtpl, Ct);
         QApplication::setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
         forms << "(when (directory (in-home \"lib/ecl-readline.fas*\"))"