diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 39e53d9..602c164 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ Arguments overview:
     The former is useful when an external backup program handles backup rotation.
     Set the argument to "false" if there should be no timestamp in the filename.
 
+* -d, --debug
+
+    Set to enable additional debugging information.
+
 # Implementation
 
 The script generates an authorization cookie using your Atlassian credentials if
diff --git a/backup.sh b/backup.sh
index 775ecec..789e43b 100755
--- a/backup.sh
+++ b/backup.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ else
     exit 1
 fi
 
-while [[ $# -gt 1 ]]
+while [[ $# -ge 1 ]]
 do
     key="$1"
 
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ do
             fi
             shift # past argument
             ;;
+        -d|--debug)
+            DEBUG=true
+            ;;
 
     esac
     shift # past argument or value
@@ -73,13 +76,16 @@ COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION="$HOME/.backup.sh-cookie"
 # Only generate a new cookie if one does not exist, or if it is more than 24 
 # hours old. This is to allow reuse of the same cookie until a new backup can be 
 # triggered.
+if [[ $DEBUG == true ]]; then echo "Checking for cookie"; fi
 find $COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION -mtime -1 2> /dev/null |grep $COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION 2>&1 > /dev/null
 if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    if [[ $DEBUG == true ]]; then echo "Generating cookie"; fi
     curl --silent --cookie-jar $COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION -X POST "https://${INSTANCE}/rest/auth/1/session" -d "{\"username\": \"$USERNAME\", \"password\": \"$PASSWORD\"}" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' --output /dev/null
     chmod 600 $COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION
 fi
 
 # The $BKPMSG variable will print the error message, you can use it if you're planning on sending an email
+if [[ $DEBUG == true ]]; then echo "Triggering backup"; fi
 BKPMSG=$(curl -s --cookie $COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION $RUNBACKUP_URL \
     -X POST \
     -H 'DNT: 1' \
@@ -88,6 +94,8 @@ BKPMSG=$(curl -s --cookie $COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION $RUNBACKUP_URL \
     -H 'X-Requested-With: XMLHttpRequest' \
     --data-binary "{\"cbAttachments\":\"${ATTACHMENTS}\", \"exportToCloud\":\"true\" }" )
 
+if [[ $DEBUG == true ]]; then echo $BKPMSG; fi
+
 # Checks if we were authorized to create a new backup
 if [ $FILEPREFIX = "JIRA" ]; then
     STATUS_CODE=$(echo "$BKPMSG" | jq '."status-code"' -r)
@@ -104,6 +112,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 # Checks if the backup exists every $SLEEP_SECONDS seconds, $PROGRESS_CHECKS times.
+if [[ $DEBUG == true ]]; then echo "Polling for backup"; fi
 for (( c=1; c<=$PROGRESS_CHECKS; c++ )) do
 
     if [ $FILEPREFIX = "JIRA" ]; then
@@ -125,6 +134,7 @@ for (( c=1; c<=$PROGRESS_CHECKS; c++ )) do
             break
         fi
     fi
+    if [[ $DEBUG == true ]]; then echo $PROGRESS_JSON; fi
     sleep $SLEEP_SECONDS
 done
 
@@ -133,5 +143,6 @@ if [ -z "$FILE_NAME" ]; then
     exit
 else
     # Download the new way, starting Nov 2016
+    if [[ $DEBUG == true ]]; then echo "curl -s -S -L --cookie $COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION "$DOWNLOAD_URL/$FILE_NAME" -o "$OUTFILE""; fi
     curl -s -S -L --cookie $COOKIE_FILE_LOCATION "$DOWNLOAD_URL/$FILE_NAME" -o "$OUTFILE"
 fi