diff --git a/target/linux/ramips/files/drivers/net/ramips.c b/target/linux/ramips/files/drivers/net/ramips.c
index 1ec03b189df..5d9d9f3b483 100644
--- a/target/linux/ramips/files/drivers/net/ramips.c
+++ b/target/linux/ramips/files/drivers/net/ramips.c
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ static inline void rt305x_esw_exit(void) { }
 
 #define phys_to_bus(a)  (a & 0x1FFFFFFF)
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_RAMIPS_ETH_DEBUG
+#define RADEBUG(fmt, args...)	printk(KERN_DEBUG fmt, ## args)
+#else
+#define RADEBUG(fmt, args...)	do {} while (0)
+#endif
+
 static struct net_device * ramips_dev;
 static void __iomem *ramips_fe_base = 0;
 
@@ -443,7 +449,7 @@ ramips_eth_stop(struct net_device *dev)
 	tasklet_kill(&priv->tx_housekeeping_tasklet);
 	tasklet_kill(&priv->rx_tasklet);
 	ramips_cleanup_dma(priv);
-	printk(KERN_DEBUG "ramips_eth: stopped\n");
+	RADEBUG("ramips_eth: stopped\n");
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -532,7 +538,7 @@ ramips_eth_plat_probe(struct platform_device *plat)
 		goto err_free_dev;
 	}
 
-	printk(KERN_DEBUG "ramips_eth: loaded\n");
+	RADEBUG("ramips_eth: loaded\n");
 	return 0;
 
  err_free_dev:
@@ -547,7 +553,7 @@ ramips_eth_plat_remove(struct platform_device *plat)
 {
 	unregister_netdev(ramips_dev);
 	free_netdev(ramips_dev);
-	printk(KERN_DEBUG "ramips_eth: unloaded\n");
+	RADEBUG("ramips_eth: unloaded\n");
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/target/linux/ramips/patches-2.6.39/103-ethernet.patch b/target/linux/ramips/patches-2.6.39/103-ethernet.patch
index 2b02b49187b..f6828cc13dc 100644
--- a/target/linux/ramips/patches-2.6.39/103-ethernet.patch
+++ b/target/linux/ramips/patches-2.6.39/103-ethernet.patch
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 --- a/drivers/net/Kconfig
 +++ b/drivers/net/Kconfig
-@@ -494,6 +494,12 @@ config MIPS_AU1X00_ENET
+@@ -494,6 +494,16 @@ config MIPS_AU1X00_ENET
  	  If you have an Alchemy Semi AU1X00 based system
  	  say Y.  Otherwise, say N.
  
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
 +	depends on MIPS_RALINK
 +	help
 +	  This driver supports the etehrnet mac inside the ralink wisocs
++
++config RAMIPS_ETH_DEBUG
++	bool "Enable debug messages in the Ralink ethernet driver"
++	depends on MIPS_RAMIPS_NET
 +
  config SGI_IOC3_ETH
  	bool "SGI IOC3 Ethernet"
diff --git a/target/linux/ramips/rt288x/config-2.6.39 b/target/linux/ramips/rt288x/config-2.6.39
index 5ad60af3af7..d57bba9ecb5 100644
--- a/target/linux/ramips/rt288x/config-2.6.39
+++ b/target/linux/ramips/rt288x/config-2.6.39
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ CONFIG_RALINK_DEV_GPIO_BUTTONS=y
 CONFIG_RALINK_DEV_GPIO_LEDS=y
 CONFIG_RALINK_RT288X=y
 # CONFIG_RALINK_RT305X is not set
+# CONFIG_RAMIPS_ETH_DEBUG is not set
 CONFIG_RAMIPS_WDT=y
 CONFIG_RT288X_MACH_F5D8235_V1=y
 CONFIG_RT288X_MACH_RT_N15=y
diff --git a/target/linux/ramips/rt305x/config-2.6.39 b/target/linux/ramips/rt305x/config-2.6.39
index 0aa7670a8bc..8842aa7fafe 100644
--- a/target/linux/ramips/rt305x/config-2.6.39
+++ b/target/linux/ramips/rt305x/config-2.6.39
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ CONFIG_RALINK_DEV_GPIO_BUTTONS=y
 CONFIG_RALINK_DEV_GPIO_LEDS=y
 # CONFIG_RALINK_RT288X is not set
 CONFIG_RALINK_RT305X=y
+# CONFIG_RAMIPS_ETH_DEBUG is not set
 CONFIG_RAMIPS_WDT=y
 CONFIG_RT305X_MACH_ALL0256N=y
 CONFIG_RT305X_MACH_ARGUS_ATP52B=y