diff --git a/helix-term/src/main.rs b/helix-term/src/main.rs
index 9ca5b0671..ac060bbea 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/main.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/main.rs
@@ -83,15 +83,18 @@ FLAGS:
         std::process::exit(0);
     }
 
-    let args = Args {
-        files: pargs.finish().into_iter().map(|arg| arg.into()).collect(),
-    };
+    let mut verbosity: u64 = 0;
 
-    // let verbosity: u64 = args.occurrences_of("verbose");
-    let verbosity: u64 = 0;
+    if pargs.contains("-v") {
+        verbosity = 1;
+    }
 
     setup_logging(verbosity).expect("failed to initialize logging.");
 
+    let args = Args {
+        files: pargs.finish().into_iter().map(|arg| arg.into()).collect(),
+    };
+
     // initialize language registry
     use helix_core::config_dir;
     use helix_core::syntax::{Loader, LOADER};