diff --git a/gallery_dl/__init__.py b/gallery_dl/__init__.py
index ad35745d..b4db17d6 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/__init__.py
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ def main():
 
             log.debug("Configuration Files %s", config._files)
 
+        if args.print_traffic:
+            import requests
+            requests.packages.urllib3.connection.HTTPConnection.debuglevel = 1
+
         # extractor modules
         modules = config.get(("extractor",), "modules")
         if modules is not None:
diff --git a/gallery_dl/option.py b/gallery_dl/option.py
index f31d5ac7..caafe880 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/option.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/option.py
@@ -345,6 +345,11 @@ def build_parser():
         help=("Write downloaded intermediary pages to files "
               "in the current directory to debug problems"),
     )
+    output.add_argument(
+        "--print-traffic",
+        dest="print_traffic", action="store_true",
+        help=("Display sent and read HTTP traffic"),
+    )
     output.add_argument(
         "--no-colors",
         dest="colors", action="store_false",