diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 5f7ceed..3021d44 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -468,6 +468,10 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     // QEMU test harness (test/qemu_test.py, which asserts on serial markers) turn
     // it on; a flashable `zig build` image leaves it out. See serial.zig.
     const serial = b.option(bool, "serial", "Compile the serial-console log sink into the kernel (default: off; run-x86-64 and the test harness enable it)") orelse false;
+    // The diagnose boot: init skips the display service (and demo), so the
+    // on-screen boot transcript is never suppressed — the full timestamped
+    // timeline stays on the screen for real-hardware debugging by eye.
+    const diagnose = b.option(bool, "diagnose", "Boot without the display service so the timestamped boot transcript stays on screen (real-hardware debugging)") orelse false;
 
     // --- Kernel: freestanding x86_64 ELF, jumped to by the bootloader ---
     // SSE2 is part of the x86_64 baseline and UEFI leaves it enabled at handoff,
@@ -511,6 +515,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     // the heartbeat stays present under test.
     const init_options = b.addOptions();
     init_options.addOption(bool, "serial", serial);
+    init_options.addOption(bool, "diagnose", diagnose);
     programModule(init_exe).addImport("build_options", init_options.createModule());
 
     // --- the rest of the /system tree: services, drivers, test fixtures ---
diff --git a/system/services/init/init.zig b/system/services/init/init.zig
index 1a06839..137b1fe 100644
--- a/system/services/init/init.zig
+++ b/system/services/init/init.zig
@@ -27,7 +27,15 @@ const build_options = @import("build_options");
 /// kernel. Drivers are absent on purpose: the device manager owns those. (A
 /// future init reads this from a manifest under /system/services instead of a
 /// hardcoded list.)
-const boot_services = [_][]const u8{
+const boot_services = if (build_options.diagnose) [_][]const u8{
+    // The diagnose boot: no display service, so the kernel's on-screen boot
+    // transcript is never suppressed — the timestamped timeline (USB bring-up,
+    // storage, logger) stays readable on real hardware with no serial.
+    "/system/services/input",
+    "/system/services/device-manager",
+    "/system/services/fat",
+    "/system/services/logger",
+} else [_][]const u8{
     "/system/services/input",
     "/system/services/device-manager",
     "/system/services/fat",