diff --git a/disk-utils/fdisk.8.adoc b/disk-utils/fdisk.8.adoc
index 16fb39fc7..fad0a9856 100644
--- a/disk-utils/fdisk.8.adoc
+++ b/disk-utils/fdisk.8.adoc
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ enables libblkid debug output.
 enables libsmartcols debug output.
 
 *LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG_PADDING*=on::
-use visible padding characters. Requires enabled *LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG*.
+use visible padding characters.
 
 *LOCK_BLOCK_DEVICE*=<mode>::
 use exclusive BSD lock. The mode is "1" or "0". See *--lock* for more details.
diff --git a/libsmartcols/src/table.c b/libsmartcols/src/table.c
index 2644215e0..cbc5fd42a 100644
--- a/libsmartcols/src/table.c
+++ b/libsmartcols/src/table.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static void check_padding_debug(struct libscols_table *tb)
 {
 	const char *str;
 
-	assert(libsmartcols_debug_mask);	/* debug has to be enabled! */
+	assert(libsmartcols_debug_mask);	/* debug has to be already initialized! */
 
 	str = getenv("LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG_PADDING");
 	if (!str || (strcmp(str, "on") != 0 && strcmp(str, "1") != 0))
diff --git a/misc-utils/findmnt.8.adoc b/misc-utils/findmnt.8.adoc
index 7baa6e580..9890584df 100644
--- a/misc-utils/findmnt.8.adoc
+++ b/misc-utils/findmnt.8.adoc
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG=all::
 enables libsmartcols debug output
 
 LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG_PADDING=on::
-use visible padding characters. Requires enabled LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG.
+use visible padding characters.
 
 == EXAMPLES
 
diff --git a/misc-utils/lsblk.8.adoc b/misc-utils/lsblk.8.adoc
index 4addcb71b..735697640 100644
--- a/misc-utils/lsblk.8.adoc
+++ b/misc-utils/lsblk.8.adoc
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG=all::
 enables *libsmartcols* debug output.
 
 LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG_PADDING=on::
-use visible padding characters. Requires enabled LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG.
+use visible padding characters.
 
 == NOTES