diff --git a/config/options b/config/options
index b2f99fb7ac..7013860093 100644
--- a/config/options
+++ b/config/options
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ fi
   [ -z "${LOCAL_CXX}" ] && export LOCAL_CXX="$(which g++)"
 
 # verbose compilation mode (yes/no)
-  VERBOSE="yes"
+  VERBOSE="${VERBOSE:-yes}"
 
 # Concurrency make level (-j option)
 #  Try value 1 (default) to 4 on single CPU computer, or more on