diff --git a/src/fu-util.c b/src/fu-util.c
index e79f52f03..8a1aebcc7 100644
--- a/src/fu-util.c
+++ b/src/fu-util.c
@@ -2414,6 +2414,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	/* set verbose? */
 	if (verbose) {
 		g_setenv ("G_MESSAGES_DEBUG", "all", FALSE);
+		g_setenv ("FWUPD_VERBOSE", "1", FALSE);
 	} else {
 		g_log_set_handler (G_LOG_DOMAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG,
 				   fu_util_ignore_cb, NULL);