diff --git a/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh b/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
index f8cd3e913c3..0df20b33b8b 100644
--- a/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
+++ b/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
@@ -83,11 +83,14 @@ mkdir -m 0755 -p /bin # for the /bin/sh symlink
 mkdir -m 0755 -p /home
 mkdir -m 0755 -p /etc/nixos
 
+echo "Filesystems mounted"
 
 # Miscellaneous boot time cleanup.
 rm -rf /var/run
 rm -rf /var/lock
 
+echo "On-boot /var cleanup done"
+
 #echo -n "cleaning \`/tmp'..."
 #rm -rf --one-file-system /tmp/*
 #echo " done"
@@ -98,6 +101,8 @@ rm -rf /var/lock
 # gone, of course.
 rm -rf /nix/var/nix/chroots # recreated in activate-configuration.sh
 
+echo "Nix chroots removed"
+
 if test -n "$safeMode"; then
     mkdir -m 0755 -p /var/run
     touch /var/run/safemode
@@ -114,11 +119,14 @@ if test -n "$resumeDevice"; then
     mkswap "$resumeDevice" || echo 'Failed to clear saved image.'
 fi
 
+echo -n "Activating configuration .. "
 
 # Run the script that performs all configuration activation that does
 # not have to be done at boot time.
 @activateConfiguration@ "$systemConfig"
 
+echo ".. done"
+
 
 # Record the boot configuration.  !!! Should this be a GC root?
 if test -n "$systemConfig"; then
@@ -133,6 +141,7 @@ export MODULE_DIR=@kernel@/lib/modules/
 # Run any user-specified commands.
 @shell@ @postBootCommands@
 
+echo "Running Upstart"
 
 # Start Upstart's init.  We start it through the
 # /var/run/current-system symlink indirection so that we can upgrade