diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index ed9bc22..dcec828 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.5.243
+1.5.244
diff --git a/base/netcmp.c b/base/netcmp.c
index 3dd3e70..76aedcc 100644
--- a/base/netcmp.c
+++ b/base/netcmp.c
@@ -5229,7 +5229,7 @@ int PropertyOptimize(struct objlist *ob, struct nlist *tp, int run, int series,
 		}
 	    }
 	 }
-	 if (changed > 0) {
+  	 if ((Debug == TRUE) && (changed > 0)) {
 	    if (series)
 		Printf("Combined %d series devices.\n", changed);
 	    else