diff --git a/cmd/lima-guestagent/install_systemd_linux.go b/cmd/lima-guestagent/install_systemd_linux.go
index bc654a56246..53cbb5d3ae9 100644
--- a/cmd/lima-guestagent/install_systemd_linux.go
+++ b/cmd/lima-guestagent/install_systemd_linux.go
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ func installSystemdAction(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	unit, err := generateSystemdUnit(vsockPort, virtioPort)
+	debug, err := cmd.Flags().GetBool("debug")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	unit, err := generateSystemdUnit(vsockPort, virtioPort, debug)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -77,7 +81,7 @@ func installSystemdAction(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 //go:embed lima-guestagent.TEMPLATE.service
 var systemdUnitTemplate string
 
-func generateSystemdUnit(vsockPort int, virtioPort string) ([]byte, error) {
+func generateSystemdUnit(vsockPort int, virtioPort string, debug bool) ([]byte, error) {
 	selfExeAbs, err := os.Executable()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -90,6 +94,9 @@ func generateSystemdUnit(vsockPort int, virtioPort string) ([]byte, error) {
 	if virtioPort != "" {
 		args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--virtio-port %s", virtioPort))
 	}
+	if debug {
+		args = append(args, "--debug")
+	}
 
 	m := map[string]string{
 		"Binary": selfExeAbs,
diff --git a/pkg/cidata/cidata.TEMPLATE.d/boot/25-guestagent-base.sh b/pkg/cidata/cidata.TEMPLATE.d/boot/25-guestagent-base.sh
index f5089144a65..182dd3ac2c0 100644
--- a/pkg/cidata/cidata.TEMPLATE.d/boot/25-guestagent-base.sh
+++ b/pkg/cidata/cidata.TEMPLATE.d/boot/25-guestagent-base.sh
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@ else
 	rm -f "${LIMA_CIDATA_HOME}/.config/systemd/user/lima-guestagent.service"
 
 	if [ "${LIMA_CIDATA_VSOCK_PORT}" != "0" ]; then
-		sudo "${LIMA_CIDATA_GUEST_INSTALL_PREFIX}"/bin/lima-guestagent install-systemd --vsock-port "${LIMA_CIDATA_VSOCK_PORT}"
+		sudo "${LIMA_CIDATA_GUEST_INSTALL_PREFIX}"/bin/lima-guestagent install-systemd --debug="${LIMA_CIDATA_DEBUG}" --vsock-port "${LIMA_CIDATA_VSOCK_PORT}"
 	elif [ "${LIMA_CIDATA_VIRTIO_PORT}" != "" ]; then
-		sudo "${LIMA_CIDATA_GUEST_INSTALL_PREFIX}"/bin/lima-guestagent install-systemd --virtio-port "${LIMA_CIDATA_VIRTIO_PORT}"
+		sudo "${LIMA_CIDATA_GUEST_INSTALL_PREFIX}"/bin/lima-guestagent install-systemd --debug="${LIMA_CIDATA_DEBUG}" --virtio-port "${LIMA_CIDATA_VIRTIO_PORT}"
 	else
-		sudo "${LIMA_CIDATA_GUEST_INSTALL_PREFIX}"/bin/lima-guestagent install-systemd
+		sudo "${LIMA_CIDATA_GUEST_INSTALL_PREFIX}"/bin/lima-guestagent install-systemd --debug="${LIMA_CIDATA_DEBUG}"
 	fi
 fi