diff --git a/src/HostMain.cpp b/src/HostMain.cpp
index 5f596b31..4c7bc75e 100644
--- a/src/HostMain.cpp
+++ b/src/HostMain.cpp
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ bool g_fireNXDNControl = false;
 
 uint8_t* g_gitHashBytes = nullptr;
 
+bool g_modemDebug = false;
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //  Global Functions
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -163,6 +165,7 @@ void usage(const char* message, const char* arg)
         "\n\n"
         "  -v        show version information\n"
         "  -h        show this screen\n"
+        "  -d        force modem debug\n"
         "  -f        foreground mode\n"
         "\n"
         "  --setup   setup and calibration mode\n"
@@ -204,6 +207,9 @@ int checkArgs(int argc, char* argv[])
             ++p;
             break;
         }
+        else if (IS("-d")) {
+            g_modemDebug = true;
+        }
         else if (IS("-f")) {
             g_foreground = true;
         }
diff --git a/src/HostMain.h b/src/HostMain.h
index 12c33401..3b8cc3db 100644
--- a/src/HostMain.h
+++ b/src/HostMain.h
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ extern bool g_fireNXDNControl;
 
 extern uint8_t* g_gitHashBytes;
 
+extern bool g_modemDebug;
+
 extern HOST_SW_API void fatal(const char* msg, ...);
 
 #endif // __HOST_MAIN_H__
diff --git a/src/host/Host.Config.cpp b/src/host/Host.Config.cpp
index ecd4f04f..7bf33f1b 100644
--- a/src/host/Host.Config.cpp
+++ b/src/host/Host.Config.cpp
@@ -492,6 +492,10 @@ bool Host::createModem()
     bool trace = modemConf["trace"].as<bool>(false);
     bool debug = modemConf["debug"].as<bool>(false);
 
+    // if modem debug is being forced from the commandline -- enable modem debug
+    if (g_modemDebug)
+        debug = true;
+
     if (rfPower == 0U) { // clamp to 1
         rfPower = 1U;
     }
diff --git a/src/host/calibrate/HostCal.cpp b/src/host/calibrate/HostCal.cpp
index 2ff64055..056050ff 100644
--- a/src/host/calibrate/HostCal.cpp
+++ b/src/host/calibrate/HostCal.cpp
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ int HostCal::run(int argc, char **argv)
         m_channelId = 15U;
     }
 
+    // if modem debug is being forced from the commandline -- enable modem debug
+    if (g_modemDebug)
+        m_debug = true;
+
     if (!calculateRxTxFreq()) {
         return false;
     }
diff --git a/src/host/setup/HostSetup.cpp b/src/host/setup/HostSetup.cpp
index 143712c4..f9f9a7dd 100644
--- a/src/host/setup/HostSetup.cpp
+++ b/src/host/setup/HostSetup.cpp
@@ -242,6 +242,10 @@ int HostSetup::run(int argc, char** argv)
         m_channelId = 15U;
     }
 
+    // if modem debug is being forced from the commandline -- enable modem debug
+    if (g_modemDebug)
+        m_debug = true;
+
     if (!calculateRxTxFreq(true)) {
         return 1;
     }