diff --git a/artiq/gateware/drtio/rt_controller.py b/artiq/gateware/drtio/rt_controller.py
index d718393da..28d00d1d2 100644
--- a/artiq/gateware/drtio/rt_controller.py
+++ b/artiq/gateware/drtio/rt_controller.py
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ class _CSRs(AutoCSR):
         self.err_present = CSR()
         self.err_code = CSRStatus(8)
 
+        self.dbg_update_packet_cnt = CSR()
+        self.dbg_packet_cnt_tx = CSRStatus(32)
+        self.dbg_packet_cnt_rx = CSRStatus(32)
+
 
 class RTController(Module):
     def __init__(self, rt_packets, channel_count, fine_ts_width):
@@ -156,6 +160,7 @@ class RTController(Module):
             )
         )
 
+        # channel state access
         self.comb += [
             self.csrs.o_dbg_fifo_space.status.eq(fifo_spaces.dat_r),
             self.csrs.o_dbg_last_timestamp.status.eq(last_timestamps.dat_r),
@@ -167,12 +172,20 @@ class RTController(Module):
             )
         ]
 
+        # errors
         self.comb += [
             self.csrs.err_present.w.eq(rt_packets.error_not),
             rt_packets.error_not_ack.eq(self.csrs.err_present.re),
             self.csrs.err_code.status.eq(rt_packets.error_code)
         ]
 
+        # packet counters
+        self.sync += \
+            If(self.csrs.dbg_update_packet_cnt.re,
+                self.csrs.dbg_packet_cnt_tx.status.eq(rt_packets.packet_cnt_tx),
+                self.csrs.dbg_packet_cnt_rx.status.eq(rt_packets.packet_cnt_rx)
+            )
+
     def get_kernel_csrs(self):
         return self.kcsrs.get_csrs()
 
diff --git a/artiq/gateware/drtio/rt_packets.py b/artiq/gateware/drtio/rt_packets.py
index 84243e903..183bc913f 100644
--- a/artiq/gateware/drtio/rt_packets.py
+++ b/artiq/gateware/drtio/rt_packets.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ from migen.genlib.fsm import *
 from migen.genlib.fifo import AsyncFIFO
 from migen.genlib.cdc import PulseSynchronizer
 
+from artiq.gateware.rtio.cdc import GrayCodeTransfer
+
 
 def layout_len(l):
     return sum(e[1] for e in l)
@@ -404,6 +406,10 @@ class RTPacketMaster(Module):
         self.error_not_ack = Signal()
         self.error_code = Signal(8)
 
+        # packet counters
+        self.packet_cnt_tx = Signal(32)
+        self.packet_cnt_rx = Signal(32)
+
         # # #
 
         # CDC
@@ -545,3 +551,33 @@ class RTPacketMaster(Module):
             fifo_space.eq(rx_dp.packet_as["fifo_space_reply"].space),
             NextState("INPUT")
         )
+
+        # packet counters
+        tx_frame_r = Signal()
+        packet_cnt_tx = Signal(32)
+        self.sync.rtio += [
+            tx_frame_r.eq(link_layer.tx_rt_frame),
+            If(link_layer.tx_rt_frame & ~tx_frame_r,
+                packet_cnt_tx.eq(packet_cnt_tx + 1))
+        ]
+        cdc_packet_cnt_tx = GrayCodeTransfer(32)
+        self.submodules += cdc_packet_cnt_tx
+        self.comb += [
+            cdc_packet_cnt_tx.i.eq(packet_cnt_tx),
+            self.packet_cnt_tx.eq(cdc_packet_cnt_tx.o)
+        ]
+
+        rx_frame_r = Signal()
+        packet_cnt_rx = Signal(32)
+        self.sync.rtio_rx += [
+            rx_frame_r.eq(link_layer.rx_rt_frame),
+            If(link_layer.rx_rt_frame & ~rx_frame_r,
+                packet_cnt_rx.eq(packet_cnt_rx + 1))
+        ]
+        cdc_packet_cnt_rx = ClockDomainsRenamer({"rtio": "rtio_rx"})(
+            GrayCodeTransfer(32))
+        self.submodules += cdc_packet_cnt_rx
+        self.comb += [
+            cdc_packet_cnt_rx.i.eq(packet_cnt_rx),
+            self.packet_cnt_rx.eq(cdc_packet_cnt_rx.o)
+        ]