diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8d408bc..a49d9b4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ openFPGALoader -- a program to flash FPGA
   -r, --reset               reset FPGA after operations
       --spi                 SPI mode (only for FTDI in serial mode)
   -v, --verbose             Produce verbose output
+      --verbose-level arg   verbose level -1: quiet, 0: normal, 1:verbose,
+                            2:debug
   -h, --help                Give this help list
       --verify              Verify write operation (SPI Flash only)
   -V, --Version             Print program version
diff --git a/src/jtag.cpp b/src/jtag.cpp
index 3707f4c..5435f87 100644
--- a/src/jtag.cpp
+++ b/src/jtag.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ using namespace std;
 
 #define DEBUG 0
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#if DEBUG
 #define display(...) \
 	do { if (_verbose) fprintf(stdout, __VA_ARGS__);}while(0)
 #else
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ using namespace std;
  */
 
 Jtag::Jtag(cable_t &cable, const jtag_pins_conf_t *pin_conf, string dev,
-			const string &serial, uint32_t clkHZ, bool verbose,
+			const string &serial, uint32_t clkHZ, int8_t verbose,
 			const string &firmware_path):
-			_verbose(verbose),
+			_verbose(verbose > 1),
 			_state(RUN_TEST_IDLE),
 			_tms_buffer_size(128), _num_tms(0),
 			_board_name("nope"), device_index(0)
diff --git a/src/jtag.hpp b/src/jtag.hpp
index b7b7e3a..73ab548 100644
--- a/src/jtag.hpp
+++ b/src/jtag.hpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 class Jtag {
  public:
 	Jtag(cable_t &cable, const jtag_pins_conf_t *pin_conf, std::string dev,
-		const std::string &serial, uint32_t clkHZ, bool verbose = false,
+		const std::string &serial, uint32_t clkHZ, int8_t verbose = 0,
 		const std::string &firmware_path="");
 	~Jtag();
 
@@ -90,13 +90,13 @@ class Jtag {
 	const char *getStateName(tapState_t s);
 
 	/* utilities */
-	void setVerbose(bool verbose){_verbose = verbose;}
+	void setVerbose(int8_t verbose){_verbose = verbose;}
 
  private:
 	void init_internal(cable_t &cable, const std::string &dev, const std::string &serial,
 		const jtag_pins_conf_t *pin_conf, uint32_t clkHZ,
 		const std::string &firmware_path);
-	bool _verbose;
+	int8_t _verbose;
 	int _state;
 	int _tms_buffer_size;
 	int _num_tms;
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 3663da3..6ac9c83 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	Jtag *jtag;
 	try {
 		jtag = new Jtag(cable, &pins_config, args.device, args.ftdi_serial,
-				args.freq, false, args.probe_firmware);
+				args.freq, args.verbose, args.probe_firmware);
 	} catch (std::exception &e) {
 		printError("JTAG init failed with: " + string(e.what()));
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
@@ -476,6 +476,7 @@ int parse_opt(int argc, char **argv, struct arguments *args, jtag_pins_conf_t *p
 	string freqo;
 	vector<string> pins;
 	bool verbose, quiet;
+	int8_t verbose_level = -2;
 	try {
 		cxxopts::Options options(argv[0], "openFPGALoader -- a program to flash FPGA",
 			"<gwenhael.goavec-merou@trabucayre.com>");
@@ -534,6 +535,8 @@ int parse_opt(int argc, char **argv, struct arguments *args, jtag_pins_conf_t *p
 			("spi",   "SPI mode (only for FTDI in serial mode)",
 				cxxopts::value<bool>(args->spi))
 			("v,verbose", "Produce verbose output", cxxopts::value<bool>(verbose))
+			("verbose-level", "verbose level -1: quiet, 0: normal, 1:verbose, 2:debug",
+				cxxopts::value<int8_t>(verbose_level))
 			("h,help", "Give this help list")
 			("verify", "Verify write operation (SPI Flash only)",
 				cxxopts::value<bool>(args->verify))
@@ -555,6 +558,15 @@ int parse_opt(int argc, char **argv, struct arguments *args, jtag_pins_conf_t *p
 			args->verbose = 1;
 		if (quiet)
 			args->verbose = -1;
+		if (verbose_level != -2) {
+			if ((verbose && verbose_level != 1) ||
+					(quiet && verbose_level != -1)) {
+				printError("Error: mismatch quiet/verbose and verbose-level\n");
+				throw std::exception();
+			}
+
+			args->verbose = verbose_level;
+		}
 
 		if (result.count("Version")) {
 			cout << "openFPGALoader " << VERSION << endl;