diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a4470d04..31f4cff0 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(redirect,
         AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-redirect], [Disable redirection of service output to /dev/null]),,[
 	enable_redirect=yes])
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(kernel_logging,
+        AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-kernel-logging], [Disable kernel logging to console (use 'quiet' instead!]),,[
+	enable_kernel_logging=yes])
+
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(logrotate,
         AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-logrotate], [Disable built-in rotation of /var/log/wtmp]),,[
 	enable_logrotate=yes])
@@ -181,6 +185,9 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_auto_reload" = "xyes"], [
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_kernel_cmdline" = "xyes"], [
         AC_DEFINE(KERNEL_CMDLINE, 1, [Dumpster diving after init args from /proc/cmdline])])
 
+AS_IF([test "x$enable_kernel_logging" = "xyes"], [
+        AC_DEFINE(KERNEL_LOGGING, 1, [Keep kernel warn/err logs to console])])
+
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_fastboot" = "xyes"], [
 	AC_DEFINE(FAST_BOOT, 1, [Skip fsck check on filesystems listed in /etc/fstab])])
 
@@ -382,6 +389,8 @@ Optional features:
   Built-in sulogin......: $with_sulogin $sulogin
   Built-in watchdogd....: $with_watchdog $watchdog
   Built-in logrotate....: $enable_logrotate
+  Parse kernel cmdline..: $enable_kernel_cmdline
+  Keep kernel logging...: $enable_kernel_logging
   Skip fsck check.......: $enable_fastboot
   Run fsck fix mode.....: $enable_fsckfix
   Redirect output.......: $enable_redirect
diff --git a/src/finit.c b/src/finit.c
index 27b81e9b..38b12788 100644
--- a/src/finit.c
+++ b/src/finit.c
@@ -87,14 +87,22 @@ svc_t *wdog     = NULL;		/* No watchdog by default */
  */
 static void banner(void)
 {
+#ifndef KERNEL_LOGGING
 	/*
 	 * Silence kernel logs, assuming users have sysklogd or
-	 * similar enabled to start emptying /dev/kmsg, but for
-	 * our progress we want to own the console.
+	 * similar enabled to start emptying /dev/kmsg.
+	 *
+	 * Instead of using `configure --disable-kernel-logging`, we
+	 * recommend adjusting the kernel log level in the kernel's
+	 * menuconfig, or using sysctl kernel.printk, or setting the
+	 * desired log level, on the kernel cmdline, e.g. 'quiet'.
+	 *
+	 * By default KERNEL_LOGGING is enabled so you can see any
+	 * warnings/errors or higher on your system console.
 	 */
 	if (!debug && !kerndebug)
 		klogctl(6, NULL, 0);
-
+#endif
 	/*
 	 * First level hooks, if you want to run here, you're
 	 * pretty much on your own.  Nothing's up yet ...