diff --git a/engines/saga2/console.cpp b/engines/saga2/console.cpp
index d89436f360c..79b830c589b 100644
--- a/engines/saga2/console.cpp
+++ b/engines/saga2/console.cpp
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ Console::Console(Saga2Engine *vm) : GUI::Debugger() {
 
 	registerCmd("stats", WRAP_METHOD(Console, cmdStats));
 
+	registerCmd("status_msg", WRAP_METHOD(Console, cmdStatusMsg));
+
 	registerCmd("dump_map", WRAP_METHOD(Console, cmdDumpMap));
 
 	registerCmd("play_music", WRAP_METHOD(Console, cmdPlayMusic));
@@ -222,6 +224,17 @@ bool Console::cmdStats(int argc, const char **argv) {
 	return true;
 }
 
+bool Console::cmdStatusMsg(int argc, const char **argv) {
+	if (argc != 2)
+		debugPrintf("Usage: %s <1/0>\n", argv[0]);
+	else {
+		bool show = atoi(argv[1]);
+		_vm->_showStatusMsg = show;
+	}
+
+	return true;
+}
+
 bool Console::cmdTeleportOnClick(int argc, const char **argv) {
 	if (argc != 2)
 		debugPrintf("Usage: %s <1/0>\n", argv[0]);
diff --git a/engines/saga2/console.h b/engines/saga2/console.h
index 29ac9305387..54d9555a374 100644
--- a/engines/saga2/console.h
+++ b/engines/saga2/console.h
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ private:
     // Input: <1/0>. Sets whether an item's stats show when holding it.
 	bool cmdStats(int argc, const char **argv);
 
+	// Input: <1/0>. Sets whether the original debug status messages show.
+	bool cmdStatusMsg(int argc, const char **argv);
+
     // Input: <1/0>. Sets whether you can teleport by right clicking on the screen.
 	bool cmdTeleportOnClick(int argc, const char **argv);
 
diff --git a/engines/saga2/main.cpp b/engines/saga2/main.cpp
index 4e00bcc0470..76e4aa2624f 100644
--- a/engines/saga2/main.cpp
+++ b/engines/saga2/main.cpp
@@ -773,6 +773,9 @@ void cleanupGUIMessagers() {
 
 #ifdef  WriteStatus
 void WriteStatusF(int16 line, const char *msg, ...) {
+	if (!g_vm->_showStatusMsg)
+		return;
+
 	va_list         argptr;
 	if (displayEnabled()) {
 		va_start(argptr, msg);
@@ -788,6 +791,9 @@ void WriteStatusF(int16 line, const char *msg, ...) {
 }
 
 void WriteStatusF2(int16 line, const char *msg, ...) {
+	if (!g_vm->_showStatusMsg)
+		return;
+
 	va_list         argptr;
 	if (displayEnabled()) {
 		va_start(argptr, msg);
diff --git a/engines/saga2/saga2.cpp b/engines/saga2/saga2.cpp
index 310a15c5af8..38abcf10d4c 100644
--- a/engines/saga2/saga2.cpp
+++ b/engines/saga2/saga2.cpp
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ Saga2Engine::Saga2Engine(OSystem *syst, const SAGA2GameDescription *desc)
 
 	_showPosition = false;
 	_showStats = false;
+	_showStatusMsg = false;
 	_teleportOnClick = false;
 	_teleportOnMap = false;
 
diff --git a/engines/saga2/saga2.h b/engines/saga2/saga2.h
index 492e16ac234..f54ac941e2a 100644
--- a/engines/saga2/saga2.h
+++ b/engines/saga2/saga2.h
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ public:
 	bool _teleportOnMap;
 	bool _showPosition;
 	bool _showStats;
+	bool _showStatusMsg;
 
 	bool _indivControlsFlag;
 	bool _userControlsSetup;