diff --git a/initramfs/init b/initramfs/init
index 1482b56..8105635 100644
--- a/initramfs/init
+++ b/initramfs/init
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ init_devs
 init_aufs
 init_zram
 
+debug_start
+
 init_union "$CHANGES" "$UNION"
 
 # find data dir with filesystem bundles
diff --git a/livekitlib b/livekitlib
index 5e65907..befa223 100644
--- a/livekitlib
+++ b/livekitlib
@@ -8,6 +8,15 @@
 # debug and output functions
 # =================================================================
 
+debug_start()
+{
+   if grep /proc/cmdline debug; then
+      DEBUG_IS_ENABLED=1
+   else
+      DEBUG_IS_ENABLED=
+   fi
+}
+
 debug_log()
 {
    if [ "$DEBUG_IS_ENABLED" ]; then