diff --git a/api.c b/api.c
index d091e9e2..4465f402 100644
--- a/api.c
+++ b/api.c
@@ -266,6 +266,10 @@ static void cb(uev_t *w, void *UNUSED(arg), int UNUSED(events))
 
 		case INIT_CMD_DEBUG:
 			debug = !debug;
+			if (debug)
+				verbose = 1;
+			else
+				verbose = quiet ? 0 : VERBOSE_MODE;
 			break;
 
 		case INIT_CMD_RELOAD: /* 'init q' and 'initctl reload' */
diff --git a/finit.c b/finit.c
index 026a397e..67c936b2 100644
--- a/finit.c
+++ b/finit.c
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	tty_runlevel(runlevel);
 
 	/* Disable verbose mode, if selected */
-	if (quiet)
+	if (quiet && !debug)
 		verbose = 0;
 
 	/* Start new initctl API responder */