diff --git a/ffmpeg.c b/ffmpeg.c
index bafae51255..4b78ff5802 100644
--- a/ffmpeg.c
+++ b/ffmpeg.c
@@ -2291,6 +2291,7 @@ static void opt_error_concealment(const char *arg)
 static void opt_debug(const char *arg)
 {
     debug = atoi(arg);
+    av_log_set_level(AV_LOG_DEBUG);
 }
 
 static void opt_vismv(const char *arg)
diff --git a/ffplay.c b/ffplay.c
index 2df39d9202..eac2cf2a50 100644
--- a/ffplay.c
+++ b/ffplay.c
@@ -1179,6 +1179,8 @@ static int stream_component_open(VideoState *is, int stream_index)
     codec = avcodec_find_decoder(enc->codec_id);
     enc->debug_mv = debug_mv;
     enc->debug = debug;
+    if(debug)
+        av_log_set_level(AV_LOG_DEBUG);
     enc->workaround_bugs = workaround_bugs;
     enc->lowres = lowres;
     if(lowres) enc->flags |= CODEC_FLAG_EMU_EDGE;