diff --git a/zipl/include/zipl.h b/zipl/include/zipl.h
index bd54822a..364cdb66 100644
--- a/zipl/include/zipl.h
+++ b/zipl/include/zipl.h
@@ -66,4 +66,24 @@ extern int verbose;
 extern int interactive;
 extern int dry_run;
 
+/* Verbosity levels/classes */
+#define VERBOSITY_STANDARD 0
+#define VERBOSITY_EXTENDED 1
+#define VERBOSITY_DEBUG    2
+
+/*
+ * Macro for messages with assigned verbosity classes
+ *
+ * NOTE: Verbosity levels/classes 3 and higher are "reserved". To implement
+ * them, make "--debug" zipl option accept arguments.
+ */
+#define pr_class(class_id, ...)		\
+do {					\
+	if (verbose >= (class_id))	\
+		printf(__VA_ARGS__);	\
+} while (0)
+
+#define pr_verbose(...) pr_class(VERBOSITY_EXTENDED, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define pr_debug(...)   pr_class(VERBOSITY_DEBUG, __VA_ARGS__)
+
 #endif /* not ZIPL_H */
diff --git a/zipl/man/zipl.8.in b/zipl/man/zipl.8.in
index e7256ea5..e9072636 100644
--- a/zipl/man/zipl.8.in
+++ b/zipl/man/zipl.8.in
@@ -351,6 +351,10 @@ interaction is possible.
 .BR "\-V" " or " "\-\-verbose"
 Provide more verbose output.
 
+.TP
+.B "\-\-debug"
+Provide output debugging information.
+
 .TP
 .BR "\-a" " or " "\-\-add-files"
 Copy all specified files to the bootmap file instead of just referencing them.
diff --git a/zipl/src/job.c b/zipl/src/job.c
index d384e011..c5b51869 100644
--- a/zipl/src/job.c
+++ b/zipl/src/job.c
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ static struct option options[] = {
 	{ "noninteractive",	no_argument,		NULL, 'n'},
 	{ "version",		no_argument,		NULL, 'v'},
 	{ "verbose",		no_argument,		NULL, 'V'},
+	{ "debug",		no_argument,		NULL, 0xb2},
 	{ "add-files",		no_argument,		NULL, 'a'},
 	{ "tape",		required_argument,	NULL, 'T'},
 	{ "dry-run",		no_argument,		NULL, '0'},
@@ -131,6 +132,16 @@ set_secure_ipl(char *keyword, int *is_secure)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static void set_verbosity_level(struct command_line *cmdline, int level)
+{
+	/*
+	 * In case of multiple verbosity levels specified by user
+	 * the highest one will take place
+	 */
+	if (cmdline->verbose < level)
+		cmdline->verbose = level;
+}
+
 static int
 get_command_line(int argc, char* argv[], struct command_line* line)
 {
@@ -278,7 +289,7 @@ get_command_line(int argc, char* argv[], struct command_line* line)
 			cmdline.version = 1;
 			break;
 		case 'V':
-			cmdline.verbose = 1;
+			set_verbosity_level(&cmdline, VERBOSITY_EXTENDED);
 			break;
 		case 'a':
 			cmdline.add_files = 1;
@@ -295,6 +306,9 @@ get_command_line(int argc, char* argv[], struct command_line* line)
 		case 0xb1:
 			cmdline.no_compress = 1;
 			break;
+		case 0xb2:
+			set_verbosity_level(&cmdline, VERBOSITY_DEBUG);
+			break;
 		case 1:
 			/* Non-option is interpreted as section name */
 			if (cmdline.section != NULL) {
diff --git a/zipl/src/zipl.c b/zipl/src/zipl.c
index 4992d937..21f6eb0a 100644
--- a/zipl/src/zipl.c
+++ b/zipl/src/zipl.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 
 
 /* Flag deciding the level of verbosity */
-int verbose = 0;
+int verbose = VERBOSITY_STANDARD;
 
 /* Flag deciding whether confirmation questions are asked */
 int interactive = 1;
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ static const char* usage_text[] = {
 "-m, --menu MENU                 Install multi-boot configuration MENU",
 "-n, --noninteractive            Answer all confirmation questions with 'yes'",
 "-V, --verbose                   Provide more verbose output",
+"    --debug                     Provide output debugging information",
 "-a, --add-files                 Add all referenced files to bootmap file",
 "    --dry-run                   Simulate run but don't modify IPL records",
 "-S, --secure SWITCH             Control the zIPL secure boot support.",