diff --git a/agent/gpg-agent.c b/agent/gpg-agent.c
index 8c71e0d41..b27abe377 100644
--- a/agent/gpg-agent.c
+++ b/agent/gpg-agent.c
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oCsh,	  "csh",       N_("csh-style command output")),
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oOptions, "options", N_("|FILE|read options from FILE")),
 
-  ARGPARSE_s_u (oDebug,	     "debug",       "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebug,	     "debug",       "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oDebugAll,   "debug-all",   "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebugLevel, "debug-level", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_i (oDebugWait,"  debug-wait",  "@"),
@@ -239,6 +239,22 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
 };
 
 
+/* The list of supported debug flags.  */
+static struct debug_flags_s debug_flags [] =
+  {
+    { DBG_COMMAND_VALUE, "command"  },
+    { DBG_MPI_VALUE    , "mpi"     },
+    { DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE , "crypto"  },
+    { DBG_MEMORY_VALUE , "memory"  },
+    { DBG_CACHE_VALUE  , "cache"   },
+    { DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE, "memstat" },
+    { DBG_HASHING_VALUE, "hashing" },
+    { DBG_IPC_VALUE    , "ipc"     },
+    { 77, NULL } /* 77 := Do not exit on "help" or "?".  */
+  };
+
+
+
 #define DEFAULT_CACHE_TTL     (10*60)  /* 10 minutes */
 #define DEFAULT_CACHE_TTL_SSH (30*60)  /* 30 minutes */
 #define MAX_CACHE_TTL         (120*60) /* 2 hours */
@@ -490,15 +506,7 @@ set_debug (void)
   gcry_control (GCRYCTL_SET_VERBOSITY, (int)opt.verbose);
 
   if (opt.debug)
-    log_info ("enabled debug flags:%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s\n",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_COMMAND_VALUE)? " command":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MPI_VALUE    )? " mpi":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE )? " crypto":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MEMORY_VALUE )? " memory":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_CACHE_VALUE  )? " cache":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE)? " memstat":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_HASHING_VALUE)? " hashing":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_IPC_VALUE    )? " ipc":"");
+    parse_debug_flag (NULL, &opt.debug, debug_flags);
 }
 
 
@@ -590,7 +598,9 @@ parse_rereadable_options (ARGPARSE_ARGS *pargs, int reread)
     case oQuiet: opt.quiet = 1; break;
     case oVerbose: opt.verbose++; break;
 
-    case oDebug: opt.debug |= pargs->r.ret_ulong; break;
+    case oDebug:
+      parse_debug_flag (pargs->r.ret_str, &opt.debug, debug_flags);
+      break;
     case oDebugAll: opt.debug = ~0; break;
     case oDebugLevel: debug_level = pargs->r.ret_str; break;
     case oDebugPinentry: opt.debug_pinentry = 1; break;
diff --git a/dirmngr/dirmngr.c b/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
index a9efba9cc..10cc45e00 100644
--- a/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
+++ b/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oSocketName, "socket-name", "@"),  /* Only for debugging.  */
 
   ARGPARSE_s_u (oFakedSystemTime, "faked-system-time", "@"), /*(epoch time)*/
-  ARGPARSE_p_u (oDebug,    "debug", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebug,    "debug", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oDebugAll, "debug-all", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_i (oGnutlsDebug, "gnutls-debug", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_i (oGnutlsDebug, "tls-debug", "@"),
@@ -237,6 +237,20 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
   ARGPARSE_end ()
 };
 
+/* The list of supported debug flags.  */
+static struct debug_flags_s debug_flags [] =
+  {
+    { DBG_X509_VALUE   , "x509"    },
+    { DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE , "crypto"  },
+    { DBG_MEMORY_VALUE , "memory"  },
+    { DBG_CACHE_VALUE  , "cache"   },
+    { DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE, "memstat" },
+    { DBG_HASHING_VALUE, "hashing" },
+    { DBG_IPC_VALUE    , "ipc"     },
+    { DBG_LOOKUP_VALUE , "lookup"  },
+    { 77, NULL } /* 77 := Do not exit on "help" or "?".  */
+  };
+
 #define DEFAULT_MAX_REPLIES 10
 #define DEFAULT_LDAP_TIMEOUT 100 /* arbitrary large timeout */
 
@@ -441,6 +455,9 @@ set_debug (void)
       gnutls_global_set_log_level (opt_gnutls_debug);
     }
 #endif /*HTTP_USE_GNUTLS*/
+
+  if (opt.debug)
+    parse_debug_flag (NULL, &opt.debug, debug_flags);
 }
 
 
@@ -508,7 +525,9 @@ parse_rereadable_options (ARGPARSE_ARGS *pargs, int reread)
     {
     case oQuiet:   opt.quiet = 1; break;
     case oVerbose: opt.verbose++; break;
-    case oDebug:   opt.debug |= pargs->r.ret_ulong; break;
+    case oDebug:
+      parse_debug_flag (pargs->r.ret_str, &opt.debug, debug_flags);
+      break;
     case oDebugAll: opt.debug = ~0; break;
     case oDebugLevel: debug_level = pargs->r.ret_str; break;
     case oGnutlsDebug: opt_gnutls_debug = pargs->r.ret_int; break;
@@ -866,9 +885,6 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
         case oVerbose: opt.verbose++; break;
         case oBatch: opt.batch=1; break;
 
-        case oDebug: opt.debug |= pargs.r.ret_ulong; break;
-        case oDebugAll: opt.debug = ~0; break;
-        case oDebugLevel: debug_level = pargs.r.ret_str; break;
         case oDebugWait: debug_wait = pargs.r.ret_int; break;
 
         case oOptions:
diff --git a/g13/g13.c b/g13/g13.c
index 2e4e63d99..a6fddd045 100644
--- a/g13/g13.c
+++ b/g13/g13.c
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
 
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oOptions, "options", N_("|FILE|read options from FILE")),
 
-  ARGPARSE_p_u (oDebug, "debug", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebug, "debug", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebugLevel, "debug-level",
                 N_("|LEVEL|set the debugging level to LEVEL")),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oDebugAll, "debug-all", "@"),
@@ -171,6 +171,18 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
 };
 
 
+/* The list of supported debug flags.  */
+static struct debug_flags_s debug_flags [] =
+  {
+    { DBG_MOUNT_VALUE  , "mount"  },
+    { DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE , "crypto"  },
+    { DBG_MEMORY_VALUE , "memory"  },
+    { DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE, "memstat" },
+    { DBG_IPC_VALUE    , "ipc"     },
+    { 0, NULL }
+  };
+
+
 /* The timer tick interval used by the idle task.  */
 #define TIMERTICK_INTERVAL_SEC     (1)
 
@@ -289,12 +301,7 @@ set_debug (void)
   gcry_control (GCRYCTL_SET_VERBOSITY, (int)opt.verbose);
 
   if (opt.debug)
-    log_info ("enabled debug flags:%s%s%s%s%s\n",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MOUNT_VALUE  )? " mount":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE )? " crypto":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MEMORY_VALUE )? " memory":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE)? " memstat":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_IPC_VALUE    )? " ipc":"");
+    parse_debug_flag (NULL, &opt.debug, debug_flags);
 }
 
 
@@ -507,7 +514,13 @@ main ( int argc, char **argv)
 
         case oNoDetach: /*nodetach = 1; */break;
 
-        case oDebug: debug_value |= pargs.r.ret_ulong; break;
+        case oDebug:
+          if (parse_debug_flag (pargs.r.ret_str, &opt.debug, debug_flags))
+            {
+              pargs.r_opt = ARGPARSE_INVALID_ARG;
+              pargs.err = ARGPARSE_PRINT_ERROR;
+            }
+            break;
         case oDebugAll: debug_value = ~0; break;
         case oDebugNone: debug_value = 0; break;
         case oDebugLevel: debug_level = pargs.r.ret_str; break;
diff --git a/scd/scdaemon.c b/scd/scdaemon.c
index 2cabee87d..0f92efe02 100644
--- a/scd/scdaemon.c
+++ b/scd/scdaemon.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oSh,	"sh", N_("sh-style command output")),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oCsh,	"csh", N_("csh-style command output")),
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oOptions, "options", N_("|FILE|read options from FILE")),
-  ARGPARSE_p_u (oDebug,	"debug", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebug,	"debug", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oDebugAll, "debug-all", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebugLevel, "debug-level" ,
                 N_("|LEVEL|set the debugging level to LEVEL")),
@@ -161,6 +161,23 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
 };
 
 
+/* The list of supported debug flags.  */
+static struct debug_flags_s debug_flags [] =
+  {
+    { DBG_COMMAND_VALUE, "command"  },
+    { DBG_MPI_VALUE    , "mpi"     },
+    { DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE , "crypto"  },
+    { DBG_MEMORY_VALUE , "memory"  },
+    { DBG_CACHE_VALUE  , "cache"   },
+    { DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE, "memstat" },
+    { DBG_HASHING_VALUE, "hashing" },
+    { DBG_IPC_VALUE    , "ipc"     },
+    { DBG_CARD_IO_VALUE, "cardio"  },
+    { DBG_READER_VALUE , "reader"  },
+    { 0, NULL }
+  };
+
+
 /* The card driver we use by default for PC/SC.  */
 #if defined(HAVE_W32_SYSTEM) || defined(__CYGWIN__)
 #define DEFAULT_PCSC_DRIVER "winscard.dll"
@@ -343,17 +360,7 @@ set_debug (const char *level)
   gcry_control (GCRYCTL_SET_VERBOSITY, (int)opt.verbose);
 
   if (opt.debug)
-    log_info ("enabled debug flags:%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s\n",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_COMMAND_VALUE)? " command":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MPI_VALUE    )? " mpi":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE )? " crypto":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MEMORY_VALUE )? " memory":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_CACHE_VALUE  )? " cache":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE)? " memstat":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_HASHING_VALUE)? " hashing":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_IPC_VALUE    )? " ipc":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_CARD_IO_VALUE)? " cardio":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_READER_VALUE )? " reader":"");
+    parse_debug_flag (NULL, &opt.debug, debug_flags);
 }
 
 
@@ -536,7 +543,13 @@ main (int argc, char **argv )
         case oVerbose: opt.verbose++; break;
         case oBatch: opt.batch=1; break;
 
-        case oDebug: opt.debug |= pargs.r.ret_ulong; break;
+        case oDebug:
+          if (parse_debug_flag (pargs.r.ret_str, &opt.debug, debug_flags))
+            {
+              pargs.r_opt = ARGPARSE_INVALID_ARG;
+              pargs.err = ARGPARSE_PRINT_ERROR;
+            }
+          break;
         case oDebugAll: opt.debug = ~0; break;
         case oDebugLevel: debug_level = pargs.r.ret_str; break;
         case oDebugWait: debug_wait = pargs.r.ret_int; break;
diff --git a/sm/gpgsm.c b/sm/gpgsm.c
index 8cd7e84e6..39c3c403b 100644
--- a/sm/gpgsm.c
+++ b/sm/gpgsm.c
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
                 N_("|SPEC|use this keyserver to lookup keys")),
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oOptions, "options", N_("|FILE|read options from FILE")),
 
-  ARGPARSE_p_u (oDebug, "debug", "@"),
+  ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebug, "debug", "@"),
   ARGPARSE_s_s (oDebugLevel, "debug-level",
                 N_("|LEVEL|set the debugging level to LEVEL")),
   ARGPARSE_s_n (oDebugAll, "debug-all", "@"),
@@ -406,6 +406,19 @@ static ARGPARSE_OPTS opts[] = {
 };
 
 
+/* The list of supported debug flags.  */
+static struct debug_flags_s debug_flags [] =
+  {
+    { DBG_X509_VALUE   , "x509"    },
+    { DBG_MPI_VALUE    , "mpi"     },
+    { DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE , "crypto"  },
+    { DBG_MEMORY_VALUE , "memory"  },
+    { DBG_CACHE_VALUE  , "cache"   },
+    { DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE, "memstat" },
+    { DBG_HASHING_VALUE, "hashing" },
+    { DBG_IPC_VALUE    , "ipc"     },
+    { 0, NULL }
+  };
 
 
 /* Global variable to keep an error count. */
@@ -706,15 +719,7 @@ set_debug (void)
   gcry_control (GCRYCTL_SET_VERBOSITY, (int)opt.verbose);
 
   if (opt.debug)
-    log_info ("enabled debug flags:%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s\n",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_X509_VALUE   )? " x509":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MPI_VALUE    )? " mpi":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_CRYPTO_VALUE )? " crypto":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MEMORY_VALUE )? " memory":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_CACHE_VALUE  )? " cache":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_MEMSTAT_VALUE)? " memstat":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_HASHING_VALUE)? " hashing":"",
-              (opt.debug & DBG_IPC_VALUE    )? " ipc":"" );
+    parse_debug_flag (NULL, &opt.debug, debug_flags);
 }
 
 
@@ -1243,7 +1248,13 @@ main ( int argc, char **argv)
 
         case oKeyring: append_to_strlist (&nrings, pargs.r.ret_str); break;
 
-        case oDebug: debug_value |= pargs.r.ret_ulong; break;
+        case oDebug:
+          if (parse_debug_flag (pargs.r.ret_str, &debug_value, debug_flags))
+            {
+              pargs.r_opt = ARGPARSE_INVALID_ARG;
+              pargs.err = ARGPARSE_PRINT_ERROR;
+            }
+          break;
         case oDebugAll: debug_value = ~0; break;
         case oDebugNone: debug_value = 0; break;
         case oDebugLevel: debug_level = pargs.r.ret_str; break;