diff --git a/src/libstore/ssh.cc b/src/libstore/ssh.cc
index 7ff7a9bf..033c5809 100644
--- a/src/libstore/ssh.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/ssh.cc
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ std::unique_ptr<SSHMaster::Connection> SSHMaster::startCommand(const std::string
         addCommonSSHOpts(args);
         if (socketPath != "")
             args.insert(args.end(), {"-S", socketPath});
+        if (verbosity >= lvlChatty)
+            args.push_back("-v");
         args.push_back(command);
         execvp(args.begin()->c_str(), stringsToCharPtrs(args).data());
 
@@ -93,6 +95,8 @@ Path SSHMaster::startMaster()
             , "-o", "LocalCommand=echo started"
             , "-o", "PermitLocalCommand=yes"
             };
+        if (verbosity >= lvlChatty)
+            args.push_back("-v");
         addCommonSSHOpts(args);
         execvp(args.begin()->c_str(), stringsToCharPtrs(args).data());