diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3c5bb58..340f058 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ sudo scripts/install-systemd \
 
 Use `--no-install-os-packages` if you want to manage system packages yourself. Use `--force-env` only when you want the
 installer to rewrite an existing `/etc/pobsync/pobsync.env`.
-Use `--non-interactive` for scripted installs.
+Use `--non-interactive` for scripted installs. Use `--verbose` when you want to see the underlying apt, pip, Django, and
+systemd output.
 
 For MariaDB support, add:
 
diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
index 0916782..99e2069 100644
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ b/docs/development.md
@@ -72,11 +72,13 @@ Useful modes:
 ```
 sudo scripts/install-systemd
 sudo scripts/install-systemd --non-interactive
+sudo scripts/install-systemd --verbose
 sudo scripts/install-systemd --create-superuser --superuser-username admin
 ```
 
 The installer should print a short completion summary with the control panel URL, Self Check reminder, and service log
-commands. Keep that output user-facing rather than developer-facing.
+commands. Keep normal output user-facing: pobsync step names with OK, FAILED, or SKIPPED. Full apt, pip, Django, and
+systemd output belongs behind `--verbose` or in the failed step output.
 
 ## Migration Helpers
 
diff --git a/scripts/install-systemd b/scripts/install-systemd
index b932b91..ef844d2 100755
--- a/scripts/install-systemd
+++ b/scripts/install-systemd
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ WEB_BIND=${POBSYNC_WEB_BIND:-127.0.0.1:8010}
 FORCE_ENV=0
 INSTALL_OS_PACKAGES=1
 WITH_NGINX=0
+VERBOSE=0
 INTERACTIVE=0
 CREATE_SUPERUSER=ask
 SUPERUSER_USERNAME=${POBSYNC_SUPERUSER_USERNAME:-}
@@ -72,6 +73,10 @@ while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
             FORCE_ENV=1
             shift
             ;;
+        --verbose)
+            VERBOSE=1
+            shift
+            ;;
         --interactive)
             INTERACTIVE=1
             shift
@@ -128,6 +133,39 @@ if [ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+run_step() {
+    label=$1
+    shift
+
+    if [ "$VERBOSE" -eq 1 ]; then
+        echo "==> $label"
+        "$@"
+        echo "OK: $label"
+        return
+    fi
+
+    printf '%-48s' "$label"
+    log_file=$(mktemp)
+    if "$@" >"$log_file" 2>&1; then
+        rm -f "$log_file"
+        echo "OK"
+        return
+    fi
+
+    echo "FAILED"
+    echo
+    echo "Output from failed step '$label':" >&2
+    cat "$log_file" >&2
+    rm -f "$log_file"
+    exit 1
+}
+
+note_step() {
+    label=$1
+    status=$2
+    printf '%-48s%s\n' "$label" "$status"
+}
+
 prompt_value() {
     prompt=$1
     default=$2
@@ -252,6 +290,7 @@ fi
 
 install_os_packages() {
     if [ "$INSTALL_OS_PACKAGES" -ne 1 ]; then
+        note_step "Install OS packages" "SKIPPED"
         return
     fi
 
@@ -263,8 +302,7 @@ install_os_packages() {
         if [ "$INSTALL_EXTRAS" = "mariadb" ] || [ "$INSTALL_EXTRAS" = "[mariadb]" ] || [ "$INSTALL_EXTRAS" = ".[mariadb]" ]; then
             packages="$packages default-libmysqlclient-dev build-essential pkg-config"
         fi
-        apt-get update
-        apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends $packages
+        run_step "Install OS packages" sh -c "apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends $packages"
         return
     fi
 
@@ -294,19 +332,23 @@ if [ ! -f "$SOURCE_DIR/manage.py" ]; then
 fi
 
 if ! getent group "$SERVICE_GROUP" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    groupadd --system "$SERVICE_GROUP"
+    run_step "Create service group" groupadd --system "$SERVICE_GROUP"
+else
+    note_step "Create service group" "OK"
 fi
 
 if ! id "$SERVICE_USER" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    useradd --system --home /var/lib/pobsync --shell /usr/sbin/nologin --gid "$SERVICE_GROUP" "$SERVICE_USER"
+    run_step "Create service user" useradd --system --home /var/lib/pobsync --shell /usr/sbin/nologin --gid "$SERVICE_GROUP" "$SERVICE_USER"
+else
+    note_step "Create service user" "OK"
 fi
 
-mkdir -p /etc/pobsync /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync "$(dirname "$VENV_DIR")" "$APP_DIR" "$BACKUP_ROOT"
-chown "$SERVICE_USER:$SERVICE_GROUP" /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync
-chmod 0750 /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync
+run_step "Prepare directories" mkdir -p /etc/pobsync /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync "$(dirname "$VENV_DIR")" "$APP_DIR" "$BACKUP_ROOT"
+run_step "Set state directory permissions" chown "$SERVICE_USER:$SERVICE_GROUP" /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync
+run_step "Set private directory modes" chmod 0750 /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync
 
 if [ "$SOURCE_DIR" != "$APP_DIR" ]; then
-    rsync -a --delete \
+    run_step "Sync application files" rsync -a --delete \
         --exclude .git \
         --exclude .venv \
         --exclude __pycache__ \
@@ -314,10 +356,12 @@ if [ "$SOURCE_DIR" != "$APP_DIR" ]; then
         --exclude .mypy_cache \
         --exclude var \
         "$SOURCE_DIR"/ "$APP_DIR"/
+else
+    note_step "Sync application files" "SKIPPED"
 fi
 
-python3 -m venv "$VENV_DIR"
-"$VENV_DIR/bin/python" -m pip install --upgrade pip
+run_step "Create Python virtualenv" python3 -m venv "$VENV_DIR"
+run_step "Upgrade pip" "$VENV_DIR/bin/python" -m pip install --upgrade pip
 case "$INSTALL_EXTRAS" in
     "")
         pip_target=$APP_DIR
@@ -336,7 +380,7 @@ case "$INSTALL_EXTRAS" in
         exit 2
         ;;
 esac
-"$VENV_DIR/bin/python" -m pip install -e "$pip_target"
+run_step "Install Python package" "$VENV_DIR/bin/python" -m pip install -e "$pip_target"
 
 if [ ! -f "$ENV_FILE" ] || [ "$FORCE_ENV" -eq 1 ]; then
     secret=$("$VENV_DIR/bin/python" -c "import secrets; print(secrets.token_urlsafe(48))")
@@ -359,8 +403,9 @@ POBSYNC_SCHEDULER_INTERVAL=60
 EOF
     chmod 0640 "$ENV_FILE"
     chown "root:$SERVICE_GROUP" "$ENV_FILE"
-    echo "Wrote $ENV_FILE."
+    note_step "Write environment file" "OK"
 else
+    note_step "Write environment file" "SKIPPED"
     echo "Keeping existing $ENV_FILE. Use --force-env to rewrite it."
 fi
 
@@ -382,49 +427,63 @@ install_unit() {
     chmod 0644 "$dest"
 }
 
-install_unit "$APP_DIR/deploy/systemd/pobsync-web.service" /etc/systemd/system/pobsync-web.service
-install_unit "$APP_DIR/deploy/systemd/pobsync-worker.service" /etc/systemd/system/pobsync-worker.service
-install_unit "$APP_DIR/deploy/systemd/pobsync-scheduler.service" /etc/systemd/system/pobsync-scheduler.service
+install_units() {
+    install_unit "$APP_DIR/deploy/systemd/pobsync-web.service" /etc/systemd/system/pobsync-web.service
+    install_unit "$APP_DIR/deploy/systemd/pobsync-worker.service" /etc/systemd/system/pobsync-worker.service
+    install_unit "$APP_DIR/deploy/systemd/pobsync-scheduler.service" /etc/systemd/system/pobsync-scheduler.service
+}
 
-systemctl daemon-reload
-"$VENV_DIR/bin/python" "$APP_DIR/manage.py" migrate --noinput
-"$VENV_DIR/bin/python" "$APP_DIR/manage.py" collectstatic --noinput --clear
-chown -R "$SERVICE_USER:$SERVICE_GROUP" /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync
+run_step "Install systemd units" install_units
+
+run_step "Reload systemd" systemctl daemon-reload
+run_step "Run database migrations" "$VENV_DIR/bin/python" "$APP_DIR/manage.py" migrate --noinput
+run_step "Collect static files" "$VENV_DIR/bin/python" "$APP_DIR/manage.py" collectstatic --noinput --clear
+run_step "Finalize state permissions" chown -R "$SERVICE_USER:$SERVICE_GROUP" /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync
 
 superuser_exists=$("$VENV_DIR/bin/python" -c "import os; os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE', 'pobsync_server.settings'); import django; django.setup(); from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model; print('yes' if get_user_model().objects.filter(is_superuser=True).exists() else 'no')")
 if [ "$CREATE_SUPERUSER" -eq 1 ]; then
     if [ "$superuser_exists" = "yes" ]; then
-        echo "A Django superuser already exists; skipping superuser creation."
+        note_step "Create Django superuser" "SKIPPED"
     elif [ -n "$SUPERUSER_USERNAME" ] && [ -n "$SUPERUSER_PASSWORD" ]; then
-        DJANGO_SUPERUSER_USERNAME=$SUPERUSER_USERNAME \
-        DJANGO_SUPERUSER_EMAIL=$SUPERUSER_EMAIL \
-        DJANGO_SUPERUSER_PASSWORD=$SUPERUSER_PASSWORD \
+        run_step "Create Django superuser" env \
+            DJANGO_SUPERUSER_USERNAME="$SUPERUSER_USERNAME" \
+            DJANGO_SUPERUSER_EMAIL="$SUPERUSER_EMAIL" \
+            DJANGO_SUPERUSER_PASSWORD="$SUPERUSER_PASSWORD" \
             "$VENV_DIR/bin/python" "$APP_DIR/manage.py" createsuperuser --noinput
-        echo "Created Django superuser '$SUPERUSER_USERNAME'."
-        chown -R "$SERVICE_USER:$SERVICE_GROUP" /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync
+        run_step "Finalize superuser permissions" chown -R "$SERVICE_USER:$SERVICE_GROUP" /var/lib/pobsync /var/log/pobsync
     else
+        note_step "Create Django superuser" "SKIPPED"
         echo "No superuser password was provided; create one later with:"
         echo "  sudo -u $SERVICE_USER $VENV_DIR/bin/python $APP_DIR/manage.py createsuperuser"
     fi
 elif [ "$superuser_exists" != "yes" ]; then
+    note_step "Create Django superuser" "SKIPPED"
     echo "No Django superuser exists yet. Create one with:"
     echo "  sudo -u $SERVICE_USER $VENV_DIR/bin/python $APP_DIR/manage.py createsuperuser"
+else
+    note_step "Create Django superuser" "SKIPPED"
 fi
 
-systemctl enable --now pobsync-web.service pobsync-worker.service pobsync-scheduler.service
+run_step "Enable and start services" systemctl enable --now pobsync-web.service pobsync-worker.service pobsync-scheduler.service
 
 if [ "$WITH_NGINX" -eq 1 ]; then
     if ! command -v nginx >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        note_step "Install nginx config" "SKIPPED"
         echo "nginx is not installed; skipping nginx config." >&2
     else
         sed "s|@POBSYNC_SERVER_NAME@|$SERVER_NAME|g" "$APP_DIR/deploy/nginx/pobsync.conf" > /etc/nginx/sites-available/pobsync.conf
         ln -sf /etc/nginx/sites-available/pobsync.conf /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/pobsync.conf
-        nginx -t
-        systemctl reload nginx
+        note_step "Install nginx config" "OK"
+        run_step "Validate nginx config" nginx -t
+        run_step "Reload nginx" systemctl reload nginx
     fi
+else
+    note_step "Install nginx config" "SKIPPED"
 fi
 
-systemctl --no-pager --full status pobsync-web.service pobsync-worker.service pobsync-scheduler.service || true
+if [ "$VERBOSE" -eq 1 ]; then
+    systemctl --no-pager --full status pobsync-web.service pobsync-worker.service pobsync-scheduler.service || true
+fi
 
 echo
 echo "pobsync installation complete."