diff --git a/scp.c b/scp.c
index e20c3edd..03bed4f6 100644
--- a/scp.c
+++ b/scp.c
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ static DEBTAB scp_debug[] = {
   {"DO",        SIM_DBG_DO,         "Do Command/Expansion Activities"},
   {"SAVE",      SIM_DBG_SAVE,       "Save Activities"},
   {"RESTORE",   SIM_DBG_RESTORE,    "Restore Activities"},
+  {"INIT",      SIM_DBG_INIT,       "Initialization Activities"},
   {0}
 };
 
@@ -2985,6 +2986,18 @@ if (argc > 1) {                                         /* Check for special arg
         --argc;
         }
     }
+if (argc > 1) {                                         /* Check for special argument to turn on debug during initialization code */
+    if (sim_strcasecmp (argv[1], "DebugInit") == 0) {
+        sim_scp_dev.dctrl = SIM_DBG_INIT;
+        sim_switches |= SWMASK ('F');
+        sim_set_debon (1, "STDOUT");
+        sim_switches &= ~SWMASK ('F');
+        /* Remove special argument to avoid confusion later */
+        for (i = 1; i < argc; i++)
+            argv[i] = argv[i+1];
+        --argc;
+        }
+    }
 for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {                            /* loop thru args */
     if (argv[i] == NULL)                                /* paranoia */
         continue;
diff --git a/sim_scp_private.h b/sim_scp_private.h
index c67813a7..141181e4 100644
--- a/sim_scp_private.h
+++ b/sim_scp_private.h
@@ -197,6 +197,8 @@ extern volatile t_bool sim_idle_wait;
 extern int32 sim_asynch_check;
 extern int32 sim_asynch_latency;
 extern int32 sim_asynch_inst_latency;
+extern DEVICE sim_scp_dev;
+#define SIM_DBG_INIT        0x00200000      /* initialization activities */
 
 /* Thread local storage */
 #if defined(thread_local)