diff --git a/contrib/amcheck/verify_nbtree.c b/contrib/amcheck/verify_nbtree.c
index ceaaa271680..7792b08b5f0 100644
--- a/contrib/amcheck/verify_nbtree.c
+++ b/contrib/amcheck/verify_nbtree.c
@@ -411,6 +411,13 @@ bt_check_every_level(Relation rel, Relation heaprel, bool heapkeyspace,
 	BtreeLevel	current;
 	Snapshot	snapshot = SnapshotAny;
 
+	if (!readonly)
+		elog(DEBUG1, "verifying consistency of tree structure for index \"%s\"",
+			 RelationGetRelationName(rel));
+	else
+		elog(DEBUG1, "verifying consistency of tree structure for index \"%s\" with cross-level checks",
+			 RelationGetRelationName(rel));
+
 	/*
 	 * RecentGlobalXmin assertion matches index_getnext_tid().  See note on
 	 * RecentGlobalXmin/B-Tree page deletion.
@@ -654,7 +661,7 @@ bt_check_level_from_leftmost(BtreeCheckState *state, BtreeLevel level)
 	/* Use page-level context for duration of this call */
 	oldcontext = MemoryContextSwitchTo(state->targetcontext);
 
-	elog(DEBUG2, "verifying level %u%s", level.level,
+	elog(DEBUG1, "verifying level %u%s", level.level,
 		 level.istruerootlevel ?
 		 " (true root level)" : level.level == 0 ? " (leaf level)" : "");
 
diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/amcheck.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/amcheck.sgml
index c912d2aa895..58b163a3d94 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/amcheck.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/amcheck.sgml
@@ -166,6 +166,27 @@ ORDER BY c.relpages DESC LIMIT 10;
     </listitem>
    </varlistentry>
   </variablelist>
+  <tip>
+   <para>
+    <function>bt_index_parent_check</function> and
+    <function>bt_index_parent_check</function> both output log
+    messages about the verification process at
+    <literal>DEBUG1</literal> and <literal>DEBUG2</literal> severity
+    levels.  These messages provide detailed information about the
+    verification process that may be of interest to
+    <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> developers.  Advanced users
+    may also find this information helpful, since it provides
+    additional context should verification actually detect an
+    inconsistency.  Running:
+<programlisting>
+SET client_min_messages = DEBUG1;
+</programlisting>
+    in an interactive <application>psql</application> session before
+    running a verification query will display messages about the
+    progress of verification with a manageable level of detail.
+   </para>
+  </tip>
+
  </sect2>
 
  <sect2>