diff --git a/root/defaults/startwm.sh b/root/defaults/startwm.sh
index a1cb9d1..c126b4d 100755
--- a/root/defaults/startwm.sh
+++ b/root/defaults/startwm.sh
@@ -7,5 +7,6 @@ if which nvidia-smi > /dev/null 2>&1 && ls -A /dev/dri 2>/dev/null && [ "${DISAB
   export GALLIUM_DRIVER=zink
 fi
 
-# Start DE
-exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session /usr/bin/openbox-session > /dev/null 2>&1
+# Start DE. Output goes wherever svc-de/run pointed it, so SELKIES_DEBUG
+# decides whether the session's own logs are kept.
+exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session /usr/bin/openbox-session
diff --git a/root/defaults/startwm_wayland.sh b/root/defaults/startwm_wayland.sh
index fde82bb..c96b73a 100755
--- a/root/defaults/startwm_wayland.sh
+++ b/root/defaults/startwm_wayland.sh
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ if [ "${PELORUS,,}" == "true" ]; then
       kill $ATSPI_PID
       kill $LABWC_PID
       kill $PELORUS_PID
-    ' > /dev/null 2>&1
+    '
   else
     dbus-run-session bash -c '
       /usr/libexec/at-spi2-registryd &
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ if [ "${PELORUS,,}" == "true" ]; then
       labwc -i
       kill $ATSPI_PID
       kill $PELORUS_PID
-    ' > /dev/null 2>&1
+    '
   fi
 else
   if [ "${SELKIES_DESKTOP,,}" == "true" ]; then
-    labwc > /dev/null 2>&1 &
+    labwc &
     LABWC_PID=$!
     sleep 1
     export WAYLAND_DISPLAY=wayland-0
@@ -50,6 +50,6 @@ else
     selkies-desktop
     kill $LABWC_PID
   else
-    labwc > /dev/null 2>&1
+    labwc
   fi
 fi
diff --git a/root/etc/s6-overlay/s6-rc.d/svc-de/run b/root/etc/s6-overlay/s6-rc.d/svc-de/run
index 30f75ce..2f14a27 100755
--- a/root/etc/s6-overlay/s6-rc.d/svc-de/run
+++ b/root/etc/s6-overlay/s6-rc.d/svc-de/run
@@ -1,5 +1,16 @@
 #!/usr/bin/with-contenv bash
 
+# Where the desktop session's own output goes. Opened here, while this script
+# is still root, so the descriptor is inherited across s6-setuidgid and the
+# exec into startwm(_wayland).sh: abc never opens it itself. Both entrypoints
+# below share it, so the choice lives in one place rather than in each session
+# script.
+if [[ "${SELKIES_DEBUG,,}" == "true" ]]; then
+  exec 3>&1
+else
+  exec 3>/dev/null
+fi
+
 # wayland entrypoint
 if [[ "${PIXELFLUX_WAYLAND,,}" == "true" ]]; then
   SOCKET_PATH="${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR}/${WAYLAND_DISPLAY:-wayland-1}"
@@ -10,7 +21,7 @@ if [[ "${PIXELFLUX_WAYLAND,,}" == "true" ]]; then
   echo "[svc-de] ${SOCKET_PATH} found launching de"
   cd $HOME
   exec s6-setuidgid abc \
-    /bin/bash /defaults/startwm_wayland.sh &
+    /bin/bash /defaults/startwm_wayland.sh >&3 2>&3 &
   PID=$!
   echo "$PID" > /de-pid
   wait "$PID"
@@ -55,7 +66,7 @@ chmod 777 /tmp/selkies*
 # run
 cd $HOME
 exec s6-setuidgid abc \
-  /bin/bash /defaults/startwm.sh &
+  /bin/bash /defaults/startwm.sh >&3 2>&3 &
 PID=$!
 echo "$PID" > /de-pid
 wait "$PID"