Since the relatively recent logging unification, log_init needs a debug level > 1 in order for log_debug to print anything. This change makes it so 'ntpd -d' stays in the foreground but doesn't log much (the current behavior, different than previous releases though), 'ntpd -dd' actually prints more verbose debug messages.
Index: ntpd.8 =================================================================== RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.sbin/ntpd/ntpd.8,v retrieving revision 1.40 diff -u -p -u -p -r1.40 ntpd.8 --- ntpd.8 30 Oct 2015 16:41:53 -0000 1.40 +++ ntpd.8 20 Jan 2016 12:31:16 -0000 @@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ If this option is specified, .Nm will run in the foreground and log to .Em stderr . +It may be specified again to enable more verbose debug logs. .It Fl f Ar file Use .Ar file Index: ntpd.c =================================================================== RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.sbin/ntpd/ntpd.c,v retrieving revision 1.103 diff -u -p -u -p -r1.103 ntpd.c --- ntpd.c 11 Jan 2016 15:30:56 -0000 1.103 +++ ntpd.c 20 Jan 2016 12:31:16 -0000 @@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) while ((ch = getopt(argc, argv, "df:nsSv")) != -1) { switch (ch) { case 'd': - lconf.debug = 1; + lconf.debug++; log_verbose(1); break; case 'f':