diff --git a/bootloader/common.c b/bootloader/common.c
index 1d0ad360be..5f824cf1b8 100644
--- a/bootloader/common.c
+++ b/bootloader/common.c
@@ -22,9 +22,18 @@
 #include "system.h"
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
 #include "cpu.h"
 #include "common.h"
 
+/* TODO: Other bootloaders need to be adjusted to set this variable to true
+   on a button press - currently only the ipod version does. */
+#ifdef IPOD_ARCH
+bool verbose = false;
+#else
+bool verbose = true;
+#endif
+
 int line = 0;
 #ifdef HAVE_REMOTE_LCD
 int remote_line = 0;
@@ -54,12 +63,14 @@ void printf(const char *format, ...)
     va_end(ap);
 
     lcd_puts(0, line++, ptr);
-    lcd_update();
+    if (verbose)
+        lcd_update();
     if(line >= LCD_HEIGHT/SYSFONT_HEIGHT)
         line = 0;
 #ifdef HAVE_REMOTE_LCD
     lcd_remote_puts(0, remote_line++, ptr);
-    lcd_remote_update();
+    if (verbose)
+        lcd_remote_update();
     if(remote_line >= LCD_REMOTE_HEIGHT/SYSFONT_HEIGHT)
         remote_line = 0;
 #endif
diff --git a/bootloader/common.h b/bootloader/common.h
index 7e001aa9ab..c72952e562 100644
--- a/bootloader/common.h
+++ b/bootloader/common.h
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
 #define     EBAD_CHKSUM             -5
 #define     EFILE_TOO_BIG           -6
 
+/* Set this to true to enable lcd_update() in the printf function */
+extern bool verbose;
+
 /* Functions common to all bootloaders */
 void reset_screen(void);
 void printf(const char *format, ...);
diff --git a/bootloader/ipod.c b/bootloader/ipod.c
index 0600ea62c1..8c0d4faa85 100644
--- a/bootloader/ipod.c
+++ b/bootloader/ipod.c
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ void* main(void)
 {
     char buf[256];
     int i;
+    int btn;
     int rc;
     bool haveretailos;
     bool button_was_held;
@@ -278,6 +279,11 @@ void* main(void)
     button_init();
 #endif
 
+    btn=key_pressed();
+
+    /* Enable bootloader messages */
+    if (btn==BUTTON_RIGHT)
+        verbose = true;
 
     lcd_setfont(FONT_SYSFIXED);
 
@@ -314,10 +320,7 @@ void* main(void)
            pinfo->type, pinfo->size / 2048);
 
     
-    /* Check for a keypress */
-    i=key_pressed();
-
-    if (button_was_held || (i==BUTTON_MENU)) {
+    if (button_was_held || (btn==BUTTON_MENU)) {
         /* If either the hold switch was on, or the Menu button was held, then 
            try the Apple firmware */
 
@@ -349,7 +352,7 @@ void* main(void)
         /* Everything failed - just loop forever */
         printf("No RetailOS detected");
         
-    } else if (i==BUTTON_PLAY) {
+    } else if (btn==BUTTON_PLAY) {
         printf("Loading Linux...");
         rc=load_raw_firmware(loadbuffer, "/linux.bin", MAX_LOADSIZE);
         if (rc < EOK) {