diff --git a/src/core/main.c b/src/core/main.c
index 4633184b79..2e95edfbd8 100644
--- a/src/core/main.c
+++ b/src/core/main.c
@@ -2435,6 +2435,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                  * available, and it previously wasn't. */
                                 log_open();
 
+                                disable_printk_ratelimit();
+
                                 r = initialize_security(
                                                 &loaded_policy,
                                                 &security_start_timestamp,
diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
index dac4248356..600718e4bf 100644
--- a/src/core/manager.c
+++ b/src/core/manager.c
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 #include "string-util.h"
 #include "strv.h"
 #include "strxcpyx.h"
+#include "sysctl-util.h"
 #include "syslog-util.h"
 #include "terminal-util.h"
 #include "time-util.h"
@@ -4024,6 +4025,19 @@ static bool manager_journal_is_running(Manager *m) {
         return true;
 }
 
+void disable_printk_ratelimit(void) {
+        /* Disable kernel's printk ratelimit.
+         *
+         * Logging to /dev/kmsg is most useful during early boot and shutdown, where normal logging
+         * mechanisms are not available. The semantics of this sysctl are such that any kernel command-line
+         * setting takes precedence. */
+        int r;
+
+        r = sysctl_write("kernel/printk_devkmsg", "on");
+        if (r < 0)
+                log_debug_errno(r, "Failed to set sysctl kernel.printk_devkmsg=on: %m");
+}
+
 void manager_recheck_journal(Manager *m) {
 
         assert(m);
diff --git a/src/core/manager.h b/src/core/manager.h
index 308ee013bd..424bf71704 100644
--- a/src/core/manager.h
+++ b/src/core/manager.h
@@ -499,6 +499,7 @@ bool manager_unit_inactive_or_pending(Manager *m, const char *name);
 
 void manager_check_finished(Manager *m);
 
+void disable_printk_ratelimit(void);
 void manager_recheck_dbus(Manager *m);
 void manager_recheck_journal(Manager *m);