diff --git a/plugins/examples/persistent_per_save_example.cpp b/plugins/examples/persistent_per_save_example.cpp
index 5a7bf5224..55e4cb8b4 100644
--- a/plugins/examples/persistent_per_save_example.cpp
+++ b/plugins/examples/persistent_per_save_example.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ REQUIRE_GLOBAL(world);
 // logging levels can be dynamically controlled with the `debugfilter` command.
 namespace DFHack {
     // for configuration-related logging
-    DBG_DECLARE(persistent_per_save_example, status, DebugCategory::LINFO);
+    DBG_DECLARE(persistent_per_save_example, cycle, DebugCategory::LINFO);
     // for logging during the periodic scan
     DBG_DECLARE(persistent_per_save_example, cycle, DebugCategory::LINFO);
 }
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ static const string CONFIG_KEY = string(plugin_name) + "/config";
 static PersistentDataItem config;
 enum ConfigValues {
     CONFIG_IS_ENABLED = 0,
-    CONFIG_CYCLE_TICKS = 1,
+    CONFIG_SOMETHING_ELSE = 1,
 };
 static int get_config_val(int index) {
     if (!config.isValid())
@@ -57,13 +57,14 @@ static void set_config_bool(int index, bool value) {
     set_config_val(index, value ? 1 : 0);
 }
 
+static const int32_t CYCLE_TICKS = 1200; // one day
 static int32_t cycle_timestamp = 0;  // world->frame_counter at last cycle
 
 static command_result do_command(color_ostream &out, vector<string> &parameters);
 static void do_cycle(color_ostream &out);
 
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_init(color_ostream &out, std::vector <PluginCommand> &commands) {
-    DEBUG(status,out).print("initializing %s\n", plugin_name);
+    DEBUG(cycle,out).print("initializing %s\n", plugin_name);
 
     // provide a configuration interface for the plugin
     commands.push_back(PluginCommand(
@@ -82,11 +83,11 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_enable(color_ostream &out, bool enable) {
 
     if (enable != is_enabled) {
         is_enabled = enable;
-        DEBUG(status,out).print("%s from the API; persisting\n",
+        DEBUG(cycle,out).print("%s from the API; persisting\n",
                                 is_enabled ? "enabled" : "disabled");
         set_config_bool(CONFIG_IS_ENABLED, is_enabled);
     } else {
-        DEBUG(status,out).print("%s from the API, but already %s; no action\n",
+        DEBUG(cycle,out).print("%s from the API, but already %s; no action\n",
                                 is_enabled ? "enabled" : "disabled",
                                 is_enabled ? "enabled" : "disabled");
     }
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_enable(color_ostream &out, bool enable) {
 }
 
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_shutdown (color_ostream &out) {
-    DEBUG(status,out).print("shutting down %s\n", plugin_name);
+    DEBUG(cycle,out).print("shutting down %s\n", plugin_name);
 
     return CR_OK;
 }
@@ -103,17 +104,17 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_load_data (color_ostream &out) {
     config = World::GetPersistentData(CONFIG_KEY);
 
     if (!config.isValid()) {
-        DEBUG(status,out).print("no config found in this save; initializing\n");
+        DEBUG(cycle,out).print("no config found in this save; initializing\n");
         config = World::AddPersistentData(CONFIG_KEY);
         set_config_bool(CONFIG_IS_ENABLED, is_enabled);
-        set_config_val(CONFIG_CYCLE_TICKS, 6000);
+        set_config_val(CONFIG_SOMETHING_ELSE, 6000);
     }
 
     // we have to copy our enabled flag into the global plugin variable, but
     // all the other state we can directly read/modify from the persistent
     // data structure.
     is_enabled = get_config_bool(CONFIG_IS_ENABLED);
-    DEBUG(status,out).print("loading persisted enabled state: %s\n",
+    DEBUG(cycle,out).print("loading persisted enabled state: %s\n",
                             is_enabled ? "true" : "false");
     return CR_OK;
 }
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_load_data (color_ostream &out) {
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onstatechange(color_ostream &out, state_change_event event) {
     if (event == DFHack::SC_WORLD_UNLOADED) {
         if (is_enabled) {
-            DEBUG(status,out).print("world unloaded; disabling %s\n",
+            DEBUG(cycle,out).print("world unloaded; disabling %s\n",
                                     plugin_name);
             is_enabled = false;
         }
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onstatechange(color_ostream &out, state_chan
 }
 
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onupdate(color_ostream &out) {
-    if (is_enabled && world->frame_counter - cycle_timestamp >= get_config_val(CONFIG_CYCLE_TICKS))
+    if (is_enabled && world->frame_counter - cycle_timestamp >= CYCLE_TICKS)
         do_cycle(out);
     return CR_OK;
 }
@@ -162,5 +163,5 @@ static void do_cycle(color_ostream &out) {
 
     DEBUG(cycle,out).print("running %s cycle\n", plugin_name);
 
-    // TODO: logic that runs every get_config_val(CONFIG_CYCLE_TICKS) ticks
+    // TODO: logic that runs every CYCLE_TICKS ticks
 }