diff --git a/apps/niftest/niftest.cpp b/apps/niftest/niftest.cpp
index 75cf5772d9..9f3f8066c6 100644
--- a/apps/niftest/niftest.cpp
+++ b/apps/niftest/niftest.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ void readVFS(std::unique_ptr<VFS::Archive>&& anArchive, const std::filesystem::p
     }
 }
 
-bool parseOptions(int argc, char** argv, std::vector<Files::MaybeQuotedPath>& files)
+bool parseOptions(int argc, char** argv, std::vector<Files::MaybeQuotedPath>& files, bool& writeDebugLog)
 {
     bpo::options_description desc(R"(Ensure that OpenMW can use the provided NIF and BSA files
 
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ Usages:
 Allowed options)");
     auto addOption = desc.add_options();
     addOption("help,h", "print help message.");
+    addOption("write-debug-log,v", "write debug log for unsupported nif files");
     addOption("input-file", bpo::value<Files::MaybeQuotedPathContainer>(), "input file");
 
     // Default option if none provided
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ Allowed options)");
             std::cout << desc << std::endl;
             return false;
         }
+        writeDebugLog = variables.count("write-debug-log") > 0;
         if (variables.count("input-file"))
         {
             files = variables["input-file"].as<Files::MaybeQuotedPathContainer>();
@@ -146,10 +148,13 @@ Allowed options)");
 int main(int argc, char** argv)
 {
     std::vector<Files::MaybeQuotedPath> files;
-    if (!parseOptions(argc, argv, files))
+    bool writeDebugLog = false;
+    if (!parseOptions(argc, argv, files, writeDebugLog))
         return 1;
 
     Nif::Reader::setLoadUnsupportedFiles(true);
+    Nif::Reader::setWriteNifDebugLog(writeDebugLog);
+
     //     std::cout << "Reading Files" << std::endl;
     for (const auto& path : files)
     {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index 130ad577ce..f226b089f4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -600,6 +600,7 @@ namespace MWRender
         NifOsg::Loader::setHiddenNodeMask(Mask_UpdateVisitor);
         NifOsg::Loader::setIntersectionDisabledNodeMask(Mask_Effect);
         Nif::Reader::setLoadUnsupportedFiles(Settings::Manager::getBool("load unsupported nif files", "Models"));
+        Nif::Reader::setWriteNifDebugLog(Settings::Manager::getBool("write nif debug log", "Models"));
 
         mStateUpdater->setFogEnd(mViewDistance);
 
diff --git a/components/nif/niffile.cpp b/components/nif/niffile.cpp
index fb3d92ff4f..2da28bb5d9 100644
--- a/components/nif/niffile.cpp
+++ b/components/nif/niffile.cpp
@@ -220,13 +220,14 @@ namespace Nif
             NIFFile::VER_MW,
         };
         const bool supportedVersion = std::find(supportedVers.begin(), supportedVers.end(), ver) != supportedVers.end();
+        const bool writeDebugLog = sWriteNifDebugLog;
         if (!supportedVersion)
         {
-            if (sLoadUnsupportedFiles)
+            if (!sLoadUnsupportedFiles)
+                throw Nif::Exception("Unsupported NIF version: " + printVersion(ver), filename);
+            if (writeDebugLog)
                 Log(Debug::Warning) << " NIFFile Warning: Unsupported NIF version: " << printVersion(ver)
                                     << ". Proceed with caution! File: " << filename;
-            else
-                throw Nif::Exception("Unsupported NIF version: " + printVersion(ver), filename);
         }
 
         // NIF data endianness
@@ -322,7 +323,7 @@ namespace Nif
 
             r = entry->second();
 
-            if (!supportedVersion)
+            if (!supportedVersion && writeDebugLog)
                 Log(Debug::Verbose) << "NIF Debug: Reading record of type " << rec << ", index " << i << " ("
                                     << filename << ")";
 
@@ -364,12 +365,18 @@ namespace Nif
     }
 
     std::atomic_bool Reader::sLoadUnsupportedFiles = false;
+    std::atomic_bool Reader::sWriteNifDebugLog = false;
 
     void Reader::setLoadUnsupportedFiles(bool load)
     {
         sLoadUnsupportedFiles = load;
     }
 
+    void Reader::setWriteNifDebugLog(bool value)
+    {
+        sWriteNifDebugLog = value;
+    }
+
     std::string Reader::getString(std::uint32_t index) const
     {
         if (index == std::numeric_limits<std::uint32_t>::max())
diff --git a/components/nif/niffile.hpp b/components/nif/niffile.hpp
index 5f5f112eaf..f2adb698d0 100644
--- a/components/nif/niffile.hpp
+++ b/components/nif/niffile.hpp
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ namespace Nif
         bool& mUseSkinning;
 
         static std::atomic_bool sLoadUnsupportedFiles;
+        static std::atomic_bool sWriteNifDebugLog;
 
         /// Get the file's version in a human readable form
         ///\returns A string containing a human readable NIF version number
@@ -145,6 +146,8 @@ namespace Nif
         unsigned int getBethVersion() const { return bethVer; }
 
         static void setLoadUnsupportedFiles(bool load);
+
+        static void setWriteNifDebugLog(bool load);
     };
     using NIFFilePtr = std::shared_ptr<const Nif::NIFFile>;
 
diff --git a/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/models.rst b/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/models.rst
index b870268567..998be9e6ea 100644
--- a/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/models.rst
+++ b/docs/source/reference/modding/settings/models.rst
@@ -263,3 +263,13 @@ weatherblizzard
 Path to the file used for the blizzard clouds weather effect in Morrowind. 
 OpenMW doesn't use this file, instead it renders a similar looking particle 
 effect. Changing this won't have any effect.
+
+write nif debug log
+-------------------
+
+:Type:		boolean
+:Range:		True/False
+:Default:	True
+
+If enabled, log the loading process of unsupported NIF files.
+:ref:`load unsupported nif files` setting must be enabled for this setting to have any effect.
diff --git a/files/settings-default.cfg b/files/settings-default.cfg
index e052aefcf2..fe93e019bf 100644
--- a/files/settings-default.cfg
+++ b/files/settings-default.cfg
@@ -1116,6 +1116,9 @@ weathersnow = meshes/snow.nif
 # Blizzard weather effect
 weatherblizzard = meshes/blizzard.nif
 
+# Enable to write logs when loading unsupported nif file
+write nif debug log = true
+
 [Groundcover]
 
 # enable separate groundcover handling