diff --git a/scripts/rel/cut.sh b/scripts/rel/cut.sh
index ed94dc466..728aeddb3 100755
--- a/scripts/rel/cut.sh
+++ b/scripts/rel/cut.sh
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
-if [ "${DEBUG:-}" = 1 ]; then
-    set -x
-fi
+[ "${DEBUG:-}" = 1 ] && set -x
 
 # ensure dir
 cd -P -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.."
diff --git a/scripts/rel/format-changelog.sh b/scripts/rel/format-changelog.sh
index 3561ad55c..b1992d5bb 100755
--- a/scripts/rel/format-changelog.sh
+++ b/scripts/rel/format-changelog.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ set -euo pipefail
 shopt -s nullglob
 export LANG=C.UTF-8
 
+[ "${DEBUG:-}" = 1 ] && set -x
+
 logerr() {
     echo "$(tput setaf 1)ERROR: $1$(tput sgr0)" 1>&2
 }