diff --git a/build/config_headers/kernel_debug_config.h b/build/config_headers/kernel_debug_config.h
index 08aec0c48d..f286aa7547 100644
--- a/build/config_headers/kernel_debug_config.h
+++ b/build/config_headers/kernel_debug_config.h
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@
 // Set to 0 to disable support for kernel breakpoints.
 #define KERNEL_BREAKPOINTS				1
 
+// Enables the debug syslog feature (accessing the previous syslog in the boot
+// loader) by default. Can be overridden in the boot loader menu.
+#define KDEBUG_ENABLE_DEBUG_SYSLOG		KDEBUG_LEVEL_1
+
 
 // block/file cache
 
diff --git a/src/system/boot/loader/menu.cpp b/src/system/boot/loader/menu.cpp
index 94c73e94aa..98d65e9e44 100644
--- a/src/system/boot/loader/menu.cpp
+++ b/src/system/boot/loader/menu.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 #include <util/kernel_cpp.h>
 #include <util/ring_buffer.h>
 
+#include "kernel_debug_config.h"
+
 #include "load_driver_settings.h"
 #include "loader.h"
 #include "pager.h"
@@ -732,6 +734,12 @@ add_debug_menu()
     item->SetHelpText("Displays debug output on screen while the system "
 		"is booting, instead of the normal boot logo.");
 
+	// set debug syslog default; doesn't really belong here, but there's no
+	// better place ATM
+#if KDEBUG_ENABLE_DEBUG_SYSLOG
+	gKernelArgs.keep_debug_output_buffer = true;
+#endif
+
 	menu->AddItem(item = new(nothrow) MenuItem("Enable debug syslog"));
 	item->SetType(MENU_ITEM_MARKABLE);
 	item->SetMarked(gKernelArgs.keep_debug_output_buffer);