diff --git a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
index 36ece1f5c57b..3bcadc5f3a2e 100644
--- a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
+++ b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@ def __init__(self, iface):
         self.disable_ssl_verification = self.settings.value(
             "/MetaSearch/disableSSL", False, bool
         )
+        self.log_debugging_messages = self.settings.value(
+            "/MetaSearch/logDebugging", False, bool
+        )
 
         # Services tab
         self.cmbConnectionsServices.activated.connect(self.save_connection)
@@ -181,6 +184,10 @@ def _on_ssl_state_change(state):
             self.settings.setValue("/MetaSearch/disableSSL", bool(state))
             self.disable_ssl_verification = bool(state)
 
+        def _on_debugging_state_change(state):
+            self.settings.setValue("/MetaSearch/logDebugging", bool(state))
+            self.log_debugging_messages = bool(state)
+
         self.tabWidget.setCurrentIndex(0)
         self.populate_connection_list()
         self.btnRawAPIResponse.setEnabled(False)
@@ -192,6 +199,8 @@ def _on_ssl_state_change(state):
         self.spnTimeout.valueChanged.connect(_on_timeout_change)
         self.disableSSLVerification.setChecked(self.disable_ssl_verification)
         self.disableSSLVerification.stateChanged.connect(_on_ssl_state_change)
+        self.logDebuggingMessages.setChecked(self.log_debugging_messages)
+        self.logDebuggingMessages.stateChanged.connect(_on_debugging_state_change)
 
         key = "/MetaSearch/%s" % self.cmbConnectionsSearch.currentText()
         self.catalog_url = self.settings.value("%s/url" % key)
diff --git a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
index f45648f5acdc..fc18c629fe64 100644
--- a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
+++ b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
@@ -558,6 +558,36 @@
          </layout>
         </widget>
        </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox_5">
+         <property name="title">
+          <string>Debugging</string>
+         </property>
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout">
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QLabel" name="label_12">
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Log debugging messages</string>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="logDebuggingMessages">
+            <property name="text">
+             <string/>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QLabel" name="label_13">
+            <property name="text">
+             <string/>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
        <item>
         <spacer name="verticalSpacer">
          <property name="orientation">
diff --git a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/util.py b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/util.py
index a939604f5809..e5607b61d201 100644
--- a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/util.py
+++ b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/util.py
@@ -174,4 +174,6 @@ def clean_ows_url(url):
 def log_message(message, level=Qgis.MessageLevel.Info):
     """helper function to emit logging messages"""
 
-    LOGGER.logMessage(message, "MetaSearch", level)
+    logging = QgsSettings().value("/MetaSearch/logDebugging", False, bool)
+    if logging:
+        LOGGER.logMessage(message, "MetaSearch", level)