diff --git a/memgpt/llm_api/llm_api_tools.py b/memgpt/llm_api/llm_api_tools.py
index 59abc09e..fcea4ce2 100644
--- a/memgpt/llm_api/llm_api_tools.py
+++ b/memgpt/llm_api/llm_api_tools.py
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ def create(
     printd(f"Using model {llm_config.model_endpoint_type}, endpoint: {llm_config.model_endpoint}")
 
     # TODO eventually refactor so that credentials are passed through
+
     credentials = MemGPTCredentials.load()
 
     if function_call and not functions:
@@ -178,6 +179,7 @@ def create(
                 tools=[{"type": "function", "function": f} for f in functions] if functions else None,
                 tool_choice=function_call,
                 user=str(user_id),
+                response_format={"type": "json_object"},
             )
         else:
             data = ChatCompletionRequest(
@@ -186,6 +188,7 @@ def create(
                 functions=functions,
                 function_call=function_call,
                 user=str(user_id),
+                response_format={"type": "json_object"},
             )
 
         if stream:
diff --git a/memgpt/utils.py b/memgpt/utils.py
index c7d84232..2b763295 100644
--- a/memgpt/utils.py
+++ b/memgpt/utils.py
@@ -36,9 +36,11 @@ from memgpt.constants import (
 from memgpt.models.chat_completion_response import ChatCompletionResponse
 from memgpt.openai_backcompat.openai_object import OpenAIObject
 
-# TODO: what is this?
-# DEBUG = True
 DEBUG = False
+if "LOG_LEVEL" in os.environ:
+    if os.environ["LOG_LEVEL"] == "DEBUG":
+        DEBUG = True
+
 
 ADJECTIVE_BANK = [
     "beautiful",