diff --git a/docs/rescue.md b/docs/rescue.md
index 04fd7ce..add1413 100644
--- a/docs/rescue.md
+++ b/docs/rescue.md
@@ -210,6 +210,23 @@ box is worse than a clear "watchdog can't be armed on this host, drop
 `--watchdog-timeout` or fix the kernel." Sub-second timeouts are
 rejected.
 
+## Persistent logs
+
+xmorph writes its own log and the entrypoint's stdout+stderr to
+`/var/log/xmorph/` on the old rootfs by default. Since the pivoted
+rootfs is tmpfs and gone on the next reboot, this is where you look
+after a failed install. Change the location with `--log-persist-path`
+and `--log-persist-device`; empty `--log-persist-path` disables. The
+pivot aborts pre-pivot if the resolved directory isn't writable.
+
+```sh
+sudo xmorph pivot --image alpine --rootfs ./overlay/ \
+  --entrypoint /install.sh \
+  --log-persist-device /srv --log-persist-path xmorph
+# Post-reboot, on the recovered OS:
+tail /srv/xmorph/xmorph.log /srv/xmorph/entrypoint.log
+```
+
 ## Recovery and exit
 
 - **Back to the old OS**: `reboot`. The tmpfs is lost; the system comes
diff --git a/internal/cli/dryrun.go b/internal/cli/dryrun.go
index 4500b75..abffb1f 100644
--- a/internal/cli/dryrun.go
+++ b/internal/cli/dryrun.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package cli
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/ananthb/xmorph/internal/config"
@@ -41,6 +42,9 @@ func printDryRun(w io.Writer, cfg *config.Config) {
 	if cfg.WatchdogTimeout > 0 {
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Watchdog: %s (reset if hung; /dev/watchdog or userspace timer)\n", cfg.WatchdogTimeout)
 	}
+	if cfg.LogPersistPath != "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Persistent logs: %s\n", filepath.Join("/", cfg.LogPersistDevice, cfg.LogPersistPath))
+	}
 	if cfg.Headless {
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Mode: headless (will fork and detach, log to /var/log/xmorph.log)\n")
 	}
diff --git a/internal/cli/pivot.go b/internal/cli/pivot.go
index a88ea1f..e445416 100644
--- a/internal/cli/pivot.go
+++ b/internal/cli/pivot.go
@@ -150,6 +150,19 @@ func runPivot(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, stdout interface {
 		slog.Info("watchdog pre-pivot check ok")
 	}
 
+	// Persistent log dir pre-check. Resolved path lives on the pre-pivot
+	// root today; post-pivot it moves under KeepOldRoot.
+	if cfg.LogPersistPath != "" {
+		if cfg.KeepOldRoot == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("--log-persist-path requires --keep-old-root (need the old root mounted post-pivot)")
+		}
+		prePivotDir := filepath.Join("/", cfg.LogPersistDevice, cfg.LogPersistPath)
+		if err := ensureLogDirWritable(prePivotDir); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("--log-persist-path %s: %w", prePivotDir, err)
+		}
+		slog.Info("log-persist pre-pivot check ok", "path", prePivotDir)
+	}
+
 	// Memory headroom: warn before we commit to the pivot.
 	// (sysmem usage will be wired through when M5's RAM telemetry is
 	// surfaced via the slog output — for now we just verify the file
@@ -241,6 +254,9 @@ func buildPostpivotConfig(cfg *config.Config, entrypoint string, entryArgs []str
 		KeepOldRoot:            cfg.KeepOldRoot,
 		Entrypoint:             append([]string{entrypoint}, entryArgs...),
 	}
+	if cfg.LogPersistPath != "" && cfg.KeepOldRoot != "" {
+		pc.LogPersistDir = filepath.Join(cfg.KeepOldRoot, cfg.LogPersistDevice, cfg.LogPersistPath)
+	}
 	if cfg.SSHEnabled() {
 		ssh := &postpivot.SSHConfig{
 			Password:       cfg.SSHPassword,
@@ -295,6 +311,20 @@ func runContain(cfg *config.Config) error {
 	})
 }
 
+// ensureLogDirWritable makes dir and confirms we can write into it.
+func ensureLogDirWritable(dir string) error {
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("mkdir: %w", err)
+	}
+	probe, err := os.CreateTemp(dir, ".xmorph-probe-")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("write probe: %w", err)
+	}
+	name := probe.Name()
+	probe.Close()
+	return os.Remove(name)
+}
+
 // resolveEntrypoint picks the effective entrypoint + args + env from the
 // CLI config and the merged ImageConfig. Mirrors src/cmd/pivot.zig:194-236.
 func resolveEntrypoint(cfg *config.Config, ic *oci.ImageConfig) (entrypoint string, args, env []string) {
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 3ab95e9..d02d70c 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -46,14 +46,15 @@ type Layer struct {
 
 // Default values mirrored from src/config.zig:22-105 with paths renamed to xmorph.
 const (
-	DefaultImage        = "docker.io/library/alpine:latest"
-	DefaultEntrypoint   = "/bin/sh"
-	DefaultKeepOldRoot  = "/mnt/oldroot"
-	DefaultTimeout      = 30
-	DefaultCacheDir     = "/var/cache/xmorph"
-	DefaultWorkDir      = "/run/xmorph/rootfs"
-	DefaultLogDir       = "/var/log"
-	DefaultTailscaleImg = "docker.io/tailscale/tailscale:latest"
+	DefaultImage          = "docker.io/library/alpine:latest"
+	DefaultEntrypoint     = "/bin/sh"
+	DefaultKeepOldRoot    = "/mnt/oldroot"
+	DefaultTimeout        = 30
+	DefaultCacheDir       = "/var/cache/xmorph"
+	DefaultLogPersistPath = "/var/log/xmorph"
+	DefaultWorkDir        = "/run/xmorph/rootfs"
+	DefaultLogDir         = "/var/log"
+	DefaultTailscaleImg   = "docker.io/tailscale/tailscale:latest"
 )
 
 // Config holds the parsed CLI configuration. Field order and zero-values
@@ -97,6 +98,12 @@ type Config struct {
 	// it. Prefers /dev/watchdog (kernel), falls back to a userspace timer.
 	WatchdogTimeout time.Duration
 
+	// LogPersistDevice + LogPersistPath compose the pre-pivot absolute
+	// path where xmorph writes durable logs. Post-pivot the same path
+	// is visible under KeepOldRoot. Empty LogPersistPath disables.
+	LogPersistDevice string
+	LogPersistPath   string
+
 	// SSH: tri-state Enable (nil = auto from other ssh.* flags), explicit
 	// fields below.
 	SSHEnable         *bool
@@ -121,6 +128,7 @@ func New() Config {
 		KeepOldRoot:    DefaultKeepOldRoot,
 		Timeout:        DefaultTimeout,
 		CacheDir:       DefaultCacheDir,
+		LogPersistPath: DefaultLogPersistPath,
 		WorkDir:        DefaultWorkDir,
 		LogDir:         DefaultLogDir,
 		TailscaleImage: DefaultTailscaleImg,
diff --git a/internal/config/flags.go b/internal/config/flags.go
index 7dddb79..e7da390 100644
--- a/internal/config/flags.go
+++ b/internal/config/flags.go
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ func bindPivotOnly(fs *pflag.FlagSet, cfg *Config) {
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.Headless, "headless", false, "detach from terminal (implies --force)")
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.KeepFirewall, "keep-firewall", false, "keep existing firewall rules (default: flush before starting services)")
 	fs.DurationVar(&cfg.WatchdogTimeout, "watchdog-timeout", 0, "reset the box if the pivoted entrypoint hangs longer than this (0: disabled; uses /dev/watchdog when available, otherwise a userspace timer)")
+	fs.StringVar(&cfg.LogPersistDevice, "log-persist-device", "", "pre-pivot mount path holding the log directory (empty: old root)")
+	fs.StringVar(&cfg.LogPersistPath, "log-persist-path", DefaultLogPersistPath, "path under --log-persist-device where xmorph writes durable logs (empty: disabled)")
 }
 
 func bindBuildOnly(fs *pflag.FlagSet, cfg *Config) {
diff --git a/internal/initsys/coordinator.go b/internal/initsys/coordinator.go
index e5abc60..3596da8 100644
--- a/internal/initsys/coordinator.go
+++ b/internal/initsys/coordinator.go
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ func NewCoordinator(timeout time.Duration) Coordinator {
 func (c Coordinator) TransitionToRescue() error {
 	switch c.Kind {
 	case Systemd:
-		return c.run("systemctl", "isolate", "rescue.target")
+		// basic.target keeps journal + dbus up but stops all user
+		// services. rescue.target would additionally start sulogin
+		// on the console.
+		return c.run("systemctl", "isolate", "basic.target")
 	case OpenRC:
 		return c.run("openrc", "single")
 	case SysVinit:
diff --git a/internal/postpivot/configwrite.go b/internal/postpivot/configwrite.go
index 07ced55..8c30a07 100644
--- a/internal/postpivot/configwrite.go
+++ b/internal/postpivot/configwrite.go
@@ -30,11 +30,14 @@ type Config struct {
 	// KeepOldRoot is the pre-pivot root's mount point (default
 	// /mnt/oldroot). Reboot path unmounts it before restart. Empty
 	// means the pivot step already unmounted.
-	KeepOldRoot string     `json:"keep_old_root,omitempty"`
-	SSH         *SSHConfig `json:"ssh,omitempty"`
-	Tailscale   *TSConfig  `json:"tailscale,omitempty"`
-	Entrypoint  []string   `json:"entrypoint,omitempty"`
-	Command     []string   `json:"command,omitempty"`
+	KeepOldRoot string `json:"keep_old_root,omitempty"`
+	// LogPersistDir is the post-pivot absolute path (typically under
+	// KeepOldRoot) where xmorph writes durable logs. Empty disables.
+	LogPersistDir string     `json:"log_persist_dir,omitempty"`
+	SSH           *SSHConfig `json:"ssh,omitempty"`
+	Tailscale     *TSConfig  `json:"tailscale,omitempty"`
+	Entrypoint    []string   `json:"entrypoint,omitempty"`
+	Command       []string   `json:"command,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // SSHConfig describes the in-rootfs SSH setup (dropbear for now).
diff --git a/internal/postpivot/configwrite_test.go b/internal/postpivot/configwrite_test.go
index 57a18da..cce0bc5 100644
--- a/internal/postpivot/configwrite_test.go
+++ b/internal/postpivot/configwrite_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ func TestWriteConfigRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 		RebootOnFailure:        true,
 		WatchdogTimeoutSeconds: 300,
 		KeepOldRoot:            "/mnt/oldroot",
+		LogPersistDir:          "/mnt/oldroot/var/log/xmorph",
 		SSH: &SSHConfig{
 			Port:           22,
 			AuthorizedKeys: "ssh-ed25519 AAAA",
@@ -47,6 +48,9 @@ func TestWriteConfigRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 	if got.KeepOldRoot != "/mnt/oldroot" {
 		t.Errorf("KeepOldRoot = %q, want /mnt/oldroot", got.KeepOldRoot)
 	}
+	if got.LogPersistDir != "/mnt/oldroot/var/log/xmorph" {
+		t.Errorf("LogPersistDir = %q", got.LogPersistDir)
+	}
 	if got.SSH == nil || got.SSH.Port != 22 {
 		t.Errorf("SSH = %+v", got.SSH)
 	}
@@ -66,7 +70,7 @@ func TestWriteConfigOmitsEmptyOptional(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	data, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, ConfigPath))
 	s := string(data)
-	for _, omitted := range []string{"\"ssh\"", "\"tailscale\"", "\"entrypoint\"", "\"watchdog_timeout_seconds\"", "\"keep_old_root\""} {
+	for _, omitted := range []string{"\"ssh\"", "\"tailscale\"", "\"entrypoint\"", "\"watchdog_timeout_seconds\"", "\"keep_old_root\"", "\"log_persist_dir\""} {
 		if contains := indexOfStr(s, omitted) >= 0; contains {
 			t.Errorf("expected %q to be omitted; got %s", omitted, s)
 		}
diff --git a/internal/postpivot/run.go b/internal/postpivot/run.go
index d2fa2a0..fa82fca 100644
--- a/internal/postpivot/run.go
+++ b/internal/postpivot/run.go
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ package postpivot
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ananthb/xmorph/internal/tsnetauth"
@@ -35,6 +37,27 @@ func Run(argv []string) int {
 		FlushFirewall()
 	}
 
+	var entrypointLog io.Writer
+	if cfg != nil && cfg.LogPersistDir != "" {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(cfg.LogPersistDir, 0o755); err != nil {
+			slog.Error("log-persist mkdir", "dir", cfg.LogPersistDir, "err", err)
+		} else {
+			if xf, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(cfg.LogPersistDir, "xmorph.log"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND, 0o644); err == nil {
+				defer xf.Close()
+				slog.SetDefault(slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(io.MultiWriter(os.Stderr, xf), nil)))
+				slog.Info("persistent log opened", "dir", cfg.LogPersistDir)
+			} else {
+				slog.Error("open xmorph.log", "err", err)
+			}
+			if ef, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(cfg.LogPersistDir, "entrypoint.log"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND, 0o644); err == nil {
+				defer ef.Close()
+				entrypointLog = ef
+			} else {
+				slog.Error("open entrypoint.log", "err", err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	if cfg != nil && cfg.WatchdogTimeoutSeconds > 0 {
 		wd, err := StartWatchdog(time.Duration(cfg.WatchdogTimeoutSeconds) * time.Second)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -88,6 +111,7 @@ func Run(argv []string) int {
 		Argv:            supervised,
 		RebootOnFailure: rebootOnFailure,
 		OldRootPath:     oldRoot,
+		LogWriter:       entrypointLog,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "xmorph --init: %v\n", err)
diff --git a/internal/postpivot/supervise.go b/internal/postpivot/supervise.go
index 94ad4b3..f29d890 100644
--- a/internal/postpivot/supervise.go
+++ b/internal/postpivot/supervise.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package postpivot
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"os/signal"
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ type SuperviseOptions struct {
 	RebootOnFailure bool
 	// OldRootPath is unmounted before reboot; empty skips.
 	OldRootPath string
+	// LogWriter, if non-nil, tees the child's stdout + stderr.
+	LogWriter io.Writer
 }
 
 // Supervise spawns Argv as a child process and forwards
@@ -40,6 +43,10 @@ func Supervise(opts SuperviseOptions) (exitCode int, err error) {
 	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
 	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
 	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	if opts.LogWriter != nil {
+		cmd.Stdout = io.MultiWriter(os.Stdout, opts.LogWriter)
+		cmd.Stderr = io.MultiWriter(os.Stderr, opts.LogWriter)
+	}
 	if opts.Env != nil {
 		cmd.Env = opts.Env
 	}
diff --git a/internal/postpivot/supervise_test.go b/internal/postpivot/supervise_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39695db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/postpivot/supervise_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package postpivot
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestSuperviseTeesToLogWriter(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	code, err := Supervise(SuperviseOptions{
+		Argv:      []string{"/bin/sh", "-c", "echo hi; echo bad >&2"},
+		LogWriter: &buf,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Supervise: %v", err)
+	}
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("exit code = %d, want 0", code)
+	}
+	out := buf.String()
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "hi") || !strings.Contains(out, "bad") {
+		t.Errorf("log buffer %q missing stdout or stderr", out)
+	}
+}