diff --git a/man/systemd-debug-generator.xml b/man/systemd-debug-generator.xml
index d5cf4109b0..fa88e8ac01 100644
--- a/man/systemd-debug-generator.xml
+++ b/man/systemd-debug-generator.xml
@@ -33,27 +33,38 @@
     that reads the kernel command line and understands three
     options:</para>
 
-    <para>If the <option>systemd.mask=</option> option is specified
-    and followed by a unit name, this unit is masked for the runtime,
-    similar to the effect of
+    <para>If the <option>systemd.mask=</option> or <option>rd.systemd.mask=</option>
+    option is specified and followed by a unit name, this unit is
+    masked for the runtime, similar to the effect of
     <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemctl</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum></citerefentry>'s
     <command>mask</command> command. This is useful to boot with
     certain units removed from the initial boot transaction for
-    debugging system startup. May be specified more than once.</para>
+    debugging system startup. May be specified more than once.
+    <option>rd.systemd.mask=</option> is honored only by initial
+    RAM disk (initrd) while <option>systemd.mask=</option> is
+    honored only in the main system.</para>
 
-    <para>If the <option>systemd.wants=</option> option is specified
+    <para>If the <option>systemd.wants=</option> or
+    <option>rd.systemd.wants=</option> option is specified
     and followed by a unit name, a start job for this unit is added to
     the initial transaction. This is useful to start one or more
-    additional units at boot. May be specified more than once.</para>
+    additional units at boot. May be specified more than once.
+    <option>rd.systemd.wants=</option> is honored only by initial
+    RAM disk (initrd) while <option>systemd.wants=</option> is
+    honored only in the main system.</para>
 
-    <para>If the <option>systemd.debug_shell</option> option is
+    <para>If the <option>systemd.debug_shell</option> or
+    <option>rd.systemd.debug_shell</option> option is
     specified, the debug shell service
     <literal>debug-shell.service</literal> is pulled into the boot
     transaction. It will spawn a debug shell on tty9 during early
     system startup. Note that the shell may also be turned on
     persistently by enabling it with
     <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemctl</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum></citerefentry>'s
-    <command>enable</command> command.</para>
+    <command>enable</command> command.
+    <option>rd.systemd.debug_shell=</option> is honored only by initial
+    RAM disk (initrd) while <option>systemd.debug_shell</option> is
+    honored only in the main system.</para>
 
     <para><filename>systemd-debug-generator</filename> implements
     <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.generator</refentrytitle><manvolnum>7</manvolnum></citerefentry>.</para>
diff --git a/src/basic/proc-cmdline.c b/src/basic/proc-cmdline.c
index b386c705e1..647c61ce73 100644
--- a/src/basic/proc-cmdline.c
+++ b/src/basic/proc-cmdline.c
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ int proc_cmdline_parse_given(const char *line, proc_cmdline_parse_t parse_item,
 
                         if (flags & PROC_CMDLINE_STRIP_RD_PREFIX)
                                 key = q;
-                }
+                } else if (in_initrd() && flags & PROC_CMDLINE_RD_STRICT)
+                        continue;
 
                 value = strchr(key, '=');
                 if (value)
diff --git a/src/basic/proc-cmdline.h b/src/basic/proc-cmdline.h
index ffc45fddb9..bb8b18d3b1 100644
--- a/src/basic/proc-cmdline.h
+++ b/src/basic/proc-cmdline.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 enum {
         PROC_CMDLINE_STRIP_RD_PREFIX = 1,
         PROC_CMDLINE_VALUE_OPTIONAL = 2,
+        PROC_CMDLINE_RD_STRICT = 4
 };
 
 typedef int (*proc_cmdline_parse_t)(const char *key, const char *value, void *data);
diff --git a/src/debug-generator/debug-generator.c b/src/debug-generator/debug-generator.c
index dd6ab94fa2..800d31cebe 100644
--- a/src/debug-generator/debug-generator.c
+++ b/src/debug-generator/debug-generator.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
         umask(0022);
 
-        r = proc_cmdline_parse(parse_proc_cmdline_item, NULL, 0);
+        r = proc_cmdline_parse(parse_proc_cmdline_item, NULL, PROC_CMDLINE_RD_STRICT | PROC_CMDLINE_STRIP_RD_PREFIX);
         if (r < 0)
                 log_warning_errno(r, "Failed to parse kernel command line, ignoring: %m");