diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index f8a1b1b57..7883b7e33 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -56,9 +56,6 @@ Features:
   complain loudly if they have argv[0][0] == '@' set.
   https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=961044
 
-* read the kernel's console "debug" keyword like we read "quiet" and adjust:
-    systemd.log_level=debug and maybe systemd.log_target=kmsg
-
 * add an option to nspawn that uses seccomp to make socket(AF_NETLINK,
   SOCK_RAW, NETLINK_AUDIT) fail the the appropriate error code that
   makes the audit userspace to think auditing is not available in the
diff --git a/man/kernel-command-line.xml b/man/kernel-command-line.xml
index 7ff2709fb..db5d38a74 100644
--- a/man/kernel-command-line.xml
+++ b/man/kernel-command-line.xml
@@ -110,6 +110,18 @@
                                 </listitem>
                         </varlistentry>
 
+                        <varlistentry>
+                                <term><varname>debug</varname></term>
+                                <listitem>
+                                        <para>Parameter understood by
+                                        both the kernel and the system
+                                        and service manager to control
+                                        console log verbosity. For
+                                        details see
+                                        <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum></citerefentry>.</para>
+                                </listitem>
+                        </varlistentry>
+
                         <varlistentry>
                                 <term><varname>emergency</varname></term>
                                 <term><varname>single</varname></term>
diff --git a/man/systemd.xml b/man/systemd.xml
index d009ed8e1..497dd2bfe 100644
--- a/man/systemd.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.xml
@@ -1114,15 +1114,28 @@
                         <varlistentry>
                                 <term><varname>quiet</varname></term>
 
-                                <listitem><para>If passed turns off
+                                <listitem><para>Turn off
                                 status output at boot, much like
                                 <varname>systemd.show_status=false</varname>
                                 would. Note that this option is also
                                 read by the kernel itself and disables
-                                kernel log output to the
-                                kernel. Passing this option hence
-                                turns off the usual output from both
-                                the system manager and the
+                                kernel log output. Passing this option
+                                hence turns off the usual output from
+                                both the system manager and the kernel.
+                                </para></listitem>
+                        </varlistentry>
+
+                        <varlistentry>
+                                <term><varname>debug</varname></term>
+
+                                <listitem><para>Turn on debugging
+                                output. This is equivalent to
+                                <varname>systemd.log_level=debug</varname>.
+                                Note that this option is also read by
+                                the kernel itself and enables kernel
+                                debug output.  Passing this option
+                                hence turns on the debug output from
+                                both the system manager and the
                                 kernel.</para></listitem>
                         </varlistentry>
 
diff --git a/src/core/main.c b/src/core/main.c
index bf1e3e8ff..bb7364054 100644
--- a/src/core/main.c
+++ b/src/core/main.c
@@ -410,6 +410,8 @@ static int parse_proc_cmdline_word(const char *word) {
 
         } else if (streq(word, "quiet"))
                 arg_show_status = false;
+        else if (streq(word, "debug"))
+                log_set_max_level(LOG_DEBUG);
         else if (!in_initrd()) {
                 unsigned i;