diff --git a/drivers/acpi/bus.c b/drivers/acpi/bus.c
index 765fd1c56cd6..7edf6d913c13 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/bus.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/bus.c
@@ -688,6 +688,14 @@ void __init acpi_early_init(void)
 	if (acpi_disabled)
 		return;
 
+	/*
+	 * ACPI CA initializes acpi_dbg_level to non-zero, which means
+	 * we get debug output merely by turning on CONFIG_ACPI_DEBUG.
+	 * Turn it off so we don't get output unless the user specifies
+	 * acpi.debug_level.
+	 */
+	acpi_dbg_level = 0;
+
 	printk(KERN_INFO PREFIX "Core revision %08x\n", ACPI_CA_VERSION);
 
 	/* enable workarounds, unless strict ACPI spec. compliance */