diff --git a/config.ini b/config.ini
index c479216..5586a25 100644
--- a/config.ini
+++ b/config.ini
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# should the server print every packet it receives?
+verbose=false
+
 # Login Server configuration
 [login]
 # must be kept in sync with loginInfo.php
diff --git a/src/CNLoginServer.cpp b/src/CNLoginServer.cpp
index e8c96ff..1ba5651 100644
--- a/src/CNLoginServer.cpp
+++ b/src/CNLoginServer.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ CNLoginServer::CNLoginServer(uint16_t p) {
 }
 
 void CNLoginServer::handlePacket(CNSocket* sock, CNPacketData* data) {
+    if (settings::VERBOSE)
+        std::cout << "OpenFusion: received " << Defines::p2str(CL2LS, data->type) << " (" << data->type << ")" << std::endl;
+
     switch (data->type) {
         case P_CL2LS_REQ_LOGIN: {
             if (data->size != sizeof(sP_CL2LS_REQ_LOGIN))
diff --git a/src/CNShardServer.cpp b/src/CNShardServer.cpp
index a043f4a..6aa26b4 100644
--- a/src/CNShardServer.cpp
+++ b/src/CNShardServer.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "CNShardServer.hpp"
 #include "PlayerManager.hpp"
 #include "CNShared.hpp"
+#include "settings.hpp"
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <sstream>
@@ -17,6 +18,10 @@ CNShardServer::CNShardServer(uint16_t p) {
 }
 
 void CNShardServer::handlePacket(CNSocket* sock, CNPacketData* data) {
+    if (settings::VERBOSE)
+        std::cout << "OpenFusion: received " << Defines::p2str(CL2FE, data->type) << " (" << data->type << ")" << std::endl;
+
+
     if (ShardPackets.find(data->type) != ShardPackets.end())
         ShardPackets[data->type](sock, data);
     else
@@ -24,7 +29,7 @@ void CNShardServer::handlePacket(CNSocket* sock, CNPacketData* data) {
 }
 
 void CNShardServer::killConnection(CNSocket* cns) {
-    // remove from CNSharedData 
+    // remove from CNSharedData
     Player cachedPlr = PlayerManager::getPlayer(cns);
     PlayerManager::removePlayer(cns);
 
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index 59dff6d..4922f5d 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #include "contrib/INIReader.hpp"
 
 // defaults :)
+bool settings::VERBOSE = false;
+
 int settings::LOGINPORT = 8001;
 bool settings::LOGINRANDCHARACTERS = false;
 
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ void settings::init() {
         return;
     }
 
+    VERBOSE = reader.GetBoolean("", "verbose", VERBOSE);
     LOGINPORT = reader.GetInteger("login", "port", LOGINPORT);
     LOGINRANDCHARACTERS = reader.GetBoolean("login", "randomcharacters", LOGINRANDCHARACTERS);
     SHARDPORT = reader.GetInteger("shard", "port", SHARDPORT);
diff --git a/src/settings.hpp b/src/settings.hpp
index 7efe1de..6ab94aa 100644
--- a/src/settings.hpp
+++ b/src/settings.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define _SETT_HPP
 
 namespace settings {
+    extern bool VERBOSE;
     extern int LOGINPORT;
     extern bool LOGINRANDCHARACTERS;
     extern int SHARDPORT;