diff --git a/components/esptool_py/run_serial_tool.cmake b/components/esptool_py/run_serial_tool.cmake
index 7bd1453721..e55eeee8a6 100644
--- a/components/esptool_py/run_serial_tool.cmake
+++ b/components/esptool_py/run_serial_tool.cmake
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 # SERIAL_TOOL_ARGS is defined during the first cmake run
-# SERIAL_TOOL_EXTRA_ARGS is used for additional arguments from the command line during run-time
+# EXTRA_ARGS and EXTRA_PRE_CMD_ARGS are used for additional arguments from the command line during run-time
+list(APPEND serial_tool_cmd $ENV{SERIAL_TOOL_EXTRA_PRE_CMD_ARGS})
 list(APPEND serial_tool_cmd ${SERIAL_TOOL_ARGS})
 list(APPEND serial_tool_cmd $ENV{SERIAL_TOOL_EXTRA_ARGS})
 
diff --git a/tools/idf_py_actions/serial_ext.py b/tools/idf_py_actions/serial_ext.py
index 37d2d304d8..9d8c1b3a3a 100644
--- a/tools/idf_py_actions/serial_ext.py
+++ b/tools/idf_py_actions/serial_ext.py
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ def action_extensions(base_actions: Dict, project_path: str) -> Dict:
         args: PropertyDict,
         force: bool,
         extra_args: str,
+        trace: bool,
     ) -> None:
         """
         Run esptool to flash the entire project, from an argfile generated by the build system
@@ -224,15 +225,22 @@ def action_extensions(base_actions: Dict, project_path: str) -> Dict:
             return
 
         args.port = args.port or get_default_serial_port()
-        extra = list()
+
+        extra_pre = list()
+        if trace:
+            extra_pre.append('--trace')
+
+        extra_post = list()
         if force:
-            extra.append('--force')
+            extra_post.append('--force')
         if extra_args:
-            extra += shlex.split(extra_args)
+            extra_post += shlex.split(extra_args)
+
         env = {
             'ESPBAUD': str(args.baud),
             'ESPPORT': args.port,
-            'SERIAL_TOOL_EXTRA_ARGS': ';'.join(extra),
+            'SERIAL_TOOL_EXTRA_PRE_CMD_ARGS': ';'.join(extra_pre),
+            'SERIAL_TOOL_EXTRA_ARGS': ';'.join(extra_post),
         }
         run_target(action, args, env, force_progression=True)
 
@@ -527,6 +535,11 @@ def action_extensions(base_actions: Dict, project_path: str) -> Dict:
 
     BAUD_AND_PORT = [BAUD_RATE, PORT]
     flash_options = BAUD_AND_PORT + [
+        {
+            'names': ['--trace'],
+            'is_flag': True,
+            'help': 'Enable trace-level output of flasher tool interactions. Useful when submitting bug reports.',
+        },
         {
             'names': ['--force'],
             'is_flag': True,