diff --git a/build-linux b/build-linux
index 15ac24d..9cc2457 100755
--- a/build-linux
+++ b/build-linux
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ Configure the kernel, but don't build it.
             cc = '{} {}'.format(ccache, gcc)
         else:
             cc = gcc
+        if args.verbose:
+            verbose = ['V=1']
+        else:
+            verbose = []
         common_make_args = [
             'make', common.Newline,
             '-j', str(args.nproc), common.Newline,
@@ -72,11 +76,7 @@ Configure the kernel, but don't build it.
             'CROSS_COMPILE={}'.format(prefix), common.Newline,
             'CC={}'.format(cc), common.Newline,
             'O={}'.format(build_dir), common.Newline,
-        ]
-        if args.verbose:
-            verbose = ['V=1']
-        else:
-            verbose = []
+        ] + verbose
         if args.custom_config_file is not None:
             if not os.path.exists(args.custom_config_file):
                 raise Exception('config fragment file does not exist: {}'.format(args.custom_config_file))