diff --git a/osc/_private/__init__.py b/osc/_private/__init__.py
index 14976d5e..6c4d4302 100644
--- a/osc/_private/__init__.py
+++ b/osc/_private/__init__.py
@@ -3,5 +3,7 @@
 #
 # The cherry-picked imports will be the supported API.
 
+from .common import print_msg
+from .common import format_msg_project_package_options
 from .package import ApiPackage
 from .request import forward_request
diff --git a/osc/_private/common.py b/osc/_private/common.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..30cbe5c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osc/_private/common.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import sys
+
+
+def print_msg(msg, print_to="debug"):
+    from .. import conf
+
+    if print_to is None:
+        return
+    elif print_to == "debug":
+        if conf.config["debug"]:
+            print(f"DEBUG: {msg}", file=sys.stderr)
+    elif print_to == "stdout":
+        print(msg)
+    else:
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid value of the 'output' option: {output}")
+
+
+def format_msg_project_package_options(msg, project=None, package=None, **options):
+    """
+    Format msg, project, package and options into a meaningful message
+    that can be printed out directly or as a debug message.
+    """
+    if project:
+        msg += f" project: '{project}'"
+
+    if package:
+        msg += f" package: '{package}'"
+
+    msg_options = [key.replace("_", "-") for key, value in options.items() if value]
+    if msg_options:
+        msg_options.sort()
+        msg_options_str = ", ".join(msg_options)
+        msg += f" options: {msg_options_str}"
+
+    return msg