diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index b742a3d5b2..a19671643b 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -14512,6 +14512,10 @@ Additional options include:
 Traverse the dependency graph of the given upstream package recursively
 and generate package expressions for all those packages that are not yet
 in Guix.
+@item --recursive-dev-dependencies
+If @option{--recursive} is specified, also the recursively imported
+packages contain their development dependencies, which are recursively
+imported as well.
 @end table
 
 @item elm
diff --git a/guix/import/crate.scm b/guix/import/crate.scm
index 07874bdb26..db5461312f 100644
--- a/guix/import/crate.scm
+++ b/guix/import/crate.scm
@@ -328,14 +328,17 @@ (define (sort-map-dependencies deps)
          (append cargo-inputs cargo-development-inputs)))
       (values #f '())))
 
-(define* (crate-recursive-import crate-name #:key version)
+(define* (crate-recursive-import
+          crate-name #:key version recursive-dev-dependencies?)
   (recursive-import
    crate-name
    #:repo->guix-package
    (let ((crate->guix-package* (memoize crate->guix-package)))
      (lambda* params
        ;; download development dependencies only for the top level package
-       (let ((include-dev-deps? (equal? (car params) crate-name)))
+       (let ((include-dev-deps?
+              (or (equal? (car params) crate-name)
+                  recursive-dev-dependencies?)))
          (apply crate->guix-package*
                 (append params `(#:include-dev-deps? ,include-dev-deps?))))))
    #:version version
diff --git a/guix/scripts/import/crate.scm b/guix/scripts/import/crate.scm
index 038faa87db..b13b6636a6 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/import/crate.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/import/crate.scm
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 ;;; Copyright © 2019, 2020 Martin Becze <mjbecze@riseup.net>
 ;;; Copyright © 2021 Sarah Morgensen <iskarian@mgsn.dev>
 ;;; Copyright © 2023 Simon Tournier <zimon.toutoune@gmail.com>
+;;; Copyright © 2023 David Elsing <david.elsing@posteo.net>
 ;;;
 ;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
 ;;;
@@ -47,6 +48,9 @@ (define (show-help)
 Import and convert the crates.io package for PACKAGE-NAME.\n"))
   (display (G_ "
   -r, --recursive        import packages recursively"))
+  (display (G_ "
+      --recursive-dev-dependencies
+                         include dev-dependencies recursively"))
   (newline)
   (display (G_ "
   -h, --help             display this help and exit"))
@@ -67,6 +71,9 @@ (define %options
          (option '(#\r "recursive") #f #f
                  (lambda (opt name arg result)
                    (alist-cons 'recursive #t result)))
+         (option '("recursive-dev-dependencies") #f #f
+                 (lambda (opt name arg result)
+                   (alist-cons 'recursive-dev-dependencies #t result)))
          %standard-import-options))
 
 
@@ -92,7 +99,10 @@ (define-values (name version)
          (package-name->name+version spec))
 
        (match (if (assoc-ref opts 'recursive)
-                  (crate-recursive-import name #:version version)
+                  (crate-recursive-import
+                   name #:version version
+                   #:recursive-dev-dependencies?
+                   (assoc-ref opts 'recursive-dev-dependencies))
                   (crate->guix-package name #:version version #:include-dev-deps? #t))
          ((or #f '())
           (leave (G_ "failed to download meta-data for package '~a'~%")
diff --git a/tests/crate.scm b/tests/crate.scm
index 5aea5efaf3..1b9ad88358 100644
--- a/tests/crate.scm
+++ b/tests/crate.scm
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 ;;; Copyright © 2019, 2020, 2022 Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org>
 ;;; Copyright © 2020 Martin Becze <mjbecze@riseup.net>
 ;;; Copyright © 2023 Efraim Flashner <efraim@flashner.co.il>
+;;; Copyright © 2023 David Elsing <david.elsing@posteo.net>
 ;;;
 ;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
 ;;;
@@ -40,10 +41,11 @@ (define-module (test-crate)
 ;;
 ;; root-1.0.0
 ;; root-1.0.4
-;; 	intermediate-a  1.0.42
-;; 	intermeidate-b ^1.0.0
+;; 	intermediate-a 1.0.42
+;; 	intermediate-b ^1.0.0
 ;; 	leaf-alice     ^0.7
-;; 	leaf-bob     ^3
+;; 	leaf-bob       ^3
+;; 	intermediate-c 1 (dev-dependency)
 ;;
 ;; intermediate-a-1.0.40
 ;; intermediate-a-1.0.42
@@ -55,6 +57,9 @@ (define-module (test-crate)
 ;; intermediate-b-1.2.3
 ;; 	leaf-bob	3.0.1
 ;;
+;; intermediate-c-1.0.1
+;;      leaf-alice      0.7.5 (dev-dependency)
+;;
 ;; leaf-alice-0.7.3
 ;; leaf-alice-0.7.5
 ;;
@@ -164,6 +169,11 @@ (define test-root-dependencies
        \"crate_id\": \"leaf-bob\",
        \"kind\": \"normal\",
        \"req\": \"^3\"
+     },
+     {
+       \"crate_id\": \"intermediate-c\",
+       \"kind\": \"dev\",
+       \"req\": \"1\"
      }
   ]
 }")
@@ -262,6 +272,40 @@ (define test-intermediate-b-dependencies
   ]
 }")
 
+(define test-intermediate-c-crate
+  "{
+  \"crate\": {
+    \"max_version\": \"1.0.1\",
+    \"name\": \"intermediate-c\",
+    \"description\": \"summary\",
+    \"homepage\": \"http://example.com\",
+    \"repository\": \"http://example.com\",
+    \"keywords\": [\"dummy\", \"test\"],
+    \"categories\": [\"test\"],
+    \"actual_versions\": [
+      { \"id\": 234290,
+        \"num\": \"1.0.1\",
+        \"license\": \"MIT OR Apache-2.0\",
+        \"links\": {
+          \"dependencies\": \"/api/v1/crates/intermediate-c/1.0.1/dependencies\"
+        },
+        \"yanked\": false
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}")
+
+(define test-intermediate-c-dependencies
+  "{
+  \"dependencies\": [
+     {
+       \"crate_id\": \"leaf-alice\",
+       \"kind\": \"dev\",
+       \"req\": \"0.7.5\"
+     }
+  ]
+}")
+
 (define test-leaf-alice-crate
   "{
   \"crate\": {
@@ -430,6 +474,15 @@ (define have-guile-semver?
               (open-input-string "empty file\n"))
              ("https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/intermediate-b/1.2.3/dependencies"
               (open-input-string test-intermediate-b-dependencies))
+             ("https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/intermediate-c"
+              (open-input-string test-intermediate-c-crate))
+             ("https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/intermediate-c/1.0.1/download"
+              (set! test-source-hash
+                    (bytevector->nix-base32-string
+                     (sha256 (string->bytevector "empty file\n" "utf-8"))))
+              (open-input-string "empty file\n"))
+             ("https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/intermediate-c/1.0.1/dependencies"
+              (open-input-string test-intermediate-c-dependencies))
              ("https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/leaf-alice"
               (open-input-string test-leaf-alice-crate))
              ("https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/leaf-alice/0.7.5/download"
@@ -452,7 +505,27 @@ (define have-guile-semver?
         (match (crate-recursive-import "root")
           ;; rust-intermediate-b has no dependency on the rust-leaf-alice
           ;; package, so this is a valid ordering
-          (((define-public 'rust-leaf-alice-0.7
+          (((define-public 'rust-intermediate-c-1
+              (package
+                (name "rust-intermediate-c")
+                (version "1.0.1")
+                (source
+                 (origin
+                   (method url-fetch)
+                   (uri (crate-uri "intermediate-c" version))
+                   (file-name
+                    (string-append name "-" version ".tar.gz"))
+                   (sha256
+                    (base32
+                     (?  string? hash)))))
+                (build-system cargo-build-system)
+                (arguments
+                 ('quasiquote (#:skip-build? #t)))
+                (home-page "http://example.com")
+                (synopsis "summary")
+                (description "summary")
+                (license (list license:expat license:asl2.0))))
+            (define-public 'rust-leaf-alice-0.7
               (package
                 (name "rust-leaf-alice")
                 (version "0.7.5")
@@ -562,11 +635,158 @@ (define-public 'rust-root-1
                                  ('unquote rust-intermediate-b-1))
                                 ("rust-leaf-alice"
                                  ('unquote 'rust-leaf-alice-0.7))
+                                ("rust-leaf-bob"
+                                 ('unquote rust-leaf-bob-3)))
+                               #:cargo-development-inputs
+                               (("rust-intermediate-c"
+                                 ('unquote rust-intermediate-c-1))))))
+                (home-page "http://example.com")
+                (synopsis "summary")
+                (description "summary")
+                (license (list license:expat license:asl2.0)))))
+           #t)
+          (x
+           (pk 'fail x #f)))
+        (match (crate-recursive-import "root"
+                                       #:recursive-dev-dependencies? #t)
+          ;; rust-intermediate-b has no dependency on the rust-leaf-alice
+          ;; package, so this is a valid ordering
+          (((define-public 'rust-intermediate-c-1
+              (package
+                (name "rust-intermediate-c")
+                (version "1.0.1")
+                (source
+                 (origin
+                   (method url-fetch)
+                   (uri (crate-uri "intermediate-c" version))
+                   (file-name
+                    (string-append name "-" version ".tar.gz"))
+                   (sha256
+                    (base32
+                     (?  string? hash)))))
+                (build-system cargo-build-system)
+                (arguments
+                 ('quasiquote (#:cargo-development-inputs
+                               (("rust-leaf-alice"
+                                 ('unquote rust-leaf-alice-0.7))))))
+                (home-page "http://example.com")
+                (synopsis "summary")
+                (description "summary")
+                (license (list license:expat license:asl2.0))))
+            (define-public 'rust-leaf-alice-0.7
+              (package
+                (name "rust-leaf-alice")
+                (version "0.7.5")
+                (source
+                 (origin
+                   (method url-fetch)
+                   (uri (crate-uri "leaf-alice" version))
+                   (file-name
+                    (string-append name "-" version ".tar.gz"))
+                   (sha256
+                    (base32
+                     (?  string? hash)))))
+                (build-system cargo-build-system)
+                (home-page "http://example.com")
+                (synopsis "summary")
+                (description "summary")
+                (license (list license:expat license:asl2.0))))
+            (define-public 'rust-leaf-bob-3
+              (package
+                (name "rust-leaf-bob")
+                (version "3.0.1")
+                (source
+                 (origin
+                   (method url-fetch)
+                   (uri (crate-uri "leaf-bob" version))
+                   (file-name
+                    (string-append name "-" version ".tar.gz"))
+                   (sha256
+                    (base32
+                     (?  string? hash)))))
+                (build-system cargo-build-system)
+                (home-page "http://example.com")
+                (synopsis "summary")
+                (description "summary")
+                (license (list license:expat license:asl2.0))))
+            (define-public 'rust-intermediate-b-1
+              (package
+                (name "rust-intermediate-b")
+                (version "1.2.3")
+                (source
+                 (origin
+                   (method url-fetch)
+                   (uri (crate-uri "intermediate-b" version))
+                   (file-name
+                    (string-append name "-" version ".tar.gz"))
+                   (sha256
+                    (base32
+                     (?  string? hash)))))
+                (build-system cargo-build-system)
+                (arguments
+                 ('quasiquote (#:cargo-inputs
+                               (("rust-leaf-bob"
+                                 ('unquote rust-leaf-bob-3))))))
+                (home-page "http://example.com")
+                (synopsis "summary")
+                (description "summary")
+                (license (list license:expat license:asl2.0))))
+            (define-public 'rust-intermediate-a-1
+              (package
+                (name "rust-intermediate-a")
+                (version "1.0.42")
+                (source
+                 (origin
+                   (method url-fetch)
+                   (uri (crate-uri "intermediate-a" version))
+                   (file-name
+                    (string-append name "-" version ".tar.gz"))
+                   (sha256
+                    (base32
+                     (?  string? hash)))))
+                (build-system cargo-build-system)
+                (arguments
+                 ('quasiquote (#:cargo-inputs
+                               (("rust-intermediate-b"
+                                 ('unquote rust-intermediate-b-1))
+                                ("rust-leaf-alice"
+                                 ('unquote 'rust-leaf-alice-0.7))
                                 ("rust-leaf-bob"
                                  ('unquote rust-leaf-bob-3))))))
                 (home-page "http://example.com")
                 (synopsis "summary")
                 (description "summary")
+                (license (list license:expat license:asl2.0))))
+            (define-public 'rust-root-1
+              (package
+                (name "rust-root")
+                (version "1.0.4")
+                (source
+                 (origin
+                   (method url-fetch)
+                   (uri (crate-uri "root" version))
+                   (file-name
+                    (string-append name "-" version ".tar.gz"))
+                   (sha256
+                    (base32
+                     (?  string? hash)))))
+                (build-system cargo-build-system)
+                (arguments
+                 ('quasiquote (#:cargo-inputs
+                               (("rust-intermediate-a"
+                                 ('unquote rust-intermediate-a-1))
+                                ("rust-intermediate-b"
+                                 ('unquote rust-intermediate-b-1))
+                                ("rust-leaf-alice"
+                                 ('unquote 'rust-leaf-alice-0.7))
+                                ("rust-leaf-bob"
+                                 ('unquote rust-leaf-bob-3)))
+                               #:cargo-development-inputs
+                               (("rust-intermediate-c"
+                                 ('unquote rust-intermediate-c-1))))))
+                (home-page "http://example.com")
+                (synopsis "summary")
+                (description "summary")
                 (license (list license:expat license:asl2.0)))))
            #t)
           (x
