diff --git a/state.cc b/state.cc
index 111b890..b4e3410 100644
--- a/state.cc
+++ b/state.cc
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ int source;
 
 std::string local_dir;
 
-int root_scope;
+root_scope_holder root_scope;
 int root_menu;
 int root_desktop;
 
diff --git a/state.h b/state.h
index b211de3..c561ea5 100644
--- a/state.h
+++ b/state.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <string>
+#include "LogSingleton.h"
 
 enum attend_mode { attended = 0, unattended, chooseronly };
 extern enum attend_mode unattended_mode;
@@ -42,7 +43,22 @@ extern int source;
 extern std::string local_dir;
 
 extern int root_text;
-extern int root_scope;
+
+class root_scope_holder
+{
+public:
+  void operator=(int v) {
+    int old = val;
+    val = v;
+    Log(LOG_TIMESTAMP) << "root_scope: " << old << " -> " << v << endLog;
+  }
+  operator int() const { return val; }
+private:
+  int val = 0;
+};
+
+extern root_scope_holder root_scope;
+
 extern int root_menu;
 extern int root_desktop;