diff --git a/master_changes.md b/master_changes.md
index c06e31ae02d..950a52af988 100644
--- a/master_changes.md
+++ b/master_changes.md
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ users)
   * Fix package name display for no agreement conflicts [#6055 @rjbou - fix #6030]
   * Make fetching an archive from cache add missing symlinks [#6068 @kit-ty-kate - fix #6064]
 
+## Build (package)
+  * ◈ Add `--verbose-on` option to enable verbose mode on specified package names [#5682 @desumn @rjbou]
+
 ## Remove
 
 ## Switch
@@ -136,6 +139,7 @@ users)
   * Add admin cache test [#6068 @rjbou]
   * env: Add a test for `build-env` overwrites build env opam environment variables [#5377 @rjbou]
   * clean: Add to check cleaning of sources directories [#5474 @rjbou]
+  * Add reftest for `--verbose-on` option [#5682 @rjbou]
 
 ### Engine
 
@@ -158,6 +162,9 @@ users)
 # API updates
 ## opam-client
   * `OpamSwitchCommand.import`: add optional `?deps_only` argument to install only dependencies of root packages [#5388 @rjbou]
+  * `OpamArg.build_options`: add `--verbose-on` flag [#5682 @desumn @rjbou]
+  * `OpamClientConfig.build_options`: add `verbose_on` field [#5682 @desumn]
+  * `OpamClientConfig.E`, `OpamArg.environment_variables`: and `OPAMVERBOSEON` support [#5682 @desumn @rjbou]
 
 ## opam-repository
  * `OpamRepository.fetch_from_cache`: when an archive is found, add a symlink (or copy) for the ones found in opam file but not in cache [#6068 @kit-ty-kate]
@@ -171,3 +178,4 @@ users)
   * Add `OpamTypesBase.switch_selections_{compare,equal}`: proper comparison functions for `OpamTypes.switch_selections` [#6102 @kit-ty-kate]
 
 ## opam-core
+  * `OpamStd.Env`: add `env_string_list` for parsing string list environment variables (comma separated) [#5682 @desumn]
diff --git a/src/client/opamAction.ml b/src/client/opamAction.ml
index da544b35502..9fc844efd29 100644
--- a/src/client/opamAction.ml
+++ b/src/client/opamAction.ml
@@ -688,7 +688,9 @@ let make_command st opam ?dir ?text_command (cmd, args) =
   OpamSystem.make_command ~env ~name ?dir ~text
     ~resolve_path:OpamStateConfig.(not !r.dryrun)
     ~metadata:["context", context]
-    ~verbose:(OpamConsole.verbose ())
+    ~verbose:(OpamConsole.verbose () ||
+              OpamPackage.Name.Set.mem (OpamPackage.name nv)
+                OpamClientConfig.(!r.verbose_on))
     cmd args
 
 let remove_commands t nv =
@@ -977,7 +979,10 @@ let build_package t ?(test=false) ?(doc=false) ?(dev_setup=false) build_dir nv =
       (OpamPackage.to_string nv) (OpamProcess.string_of_command cmd);
     Done (Some (OpamSystem.Process_error result))
   | None, None ->
-    if commands <> [] && OpamConsole.verbose () then
+    if commands <> [] && (OpamConsole.verbose () ||
+                          OpamPackage.Name.Set.mem (OpamPackage.name nv)
+                            OpamClientConfig.(!r.verbose_on))
+    then
       OpamConsole.msg "%s compiled  %s.%s\n"
         (if not (OpamConsole.utf8 ()) then "->"
          else OpamActionGraph.
diff --git a/src/client/opamArg.ml b/src/client/opamArg.ml
index 29d75df455d..b6c46eaddb2 100644
--- a/src/client/opamArg.ml
+++ b/src/client/opamArg.ml
@@ -304,6 +304,8 @@ let environment_variables =
       "see option `--skip-updates'.";
       "STATS", cli_original, (fun v -> STATS (env_bool v)),
       "display stats at the end of command.";
+      "VERBOSEON", cli_from cli2_2, (fun v -> VERBOSEON (env_string_list v)),
+      "see option --verbose-on";
       "WORKINGDIR", cli_original, (fun v -> WORKINGDIR (env_bool v)),
       "see option `--working-dir'.";
     ] in
@@ -647,19 +649,20 @@ type build_options = {
   lock_suffix   : string;
   assume_depexts: bool;
   no_depexts    : bool;
+  verbose_on    : name list option;
 }
 
 let create_build_options
     keep_build_dir reuse_build_dir inplace_build make no_checksums
     req_checksums build_test build_doc dev_setup show dryrun skip_update
     fake jobs ignore_constraints_on unlock_base locked lock_suffix
-    assume_depexts no_depexts
+    assume_depexts no_depexts verbose_on
     =
   {
     keep_build_dir; reuse_build_dir; inplace_build; make; no_checksums;
     req_checksums; build_test; build_doc; dev_setup; show; dryrun; skip_update;
     fake; jobs; ignore_constraints_on; unlock_base; locked; lock_suffix;
-    assume_depexts; no_depexts;
+    assume_depexts; no_depexts; verbose_on;
   }
 
 let apply_build_options cli b =
@@ -697,6 +700,10 @@ let apply_build_options cli b =
     ?fake:(flag b.fake)
     ?skip_dev_update:(flag b.skip_update)
     ?assume_depexts:(flag (b.assume_depexts || b.no_depexts))
+    ?verbose_on:
+      (b.verbose_on >>= function
+        | [] -> None
+        | vo -> Some (OpamPackage.Name.Set.of_list vo))
     ~scrubbed_environment_variables
     ()
 
@@ -1525,12 +1532,18 @@ let build_options cli =
        you installed the required dependency by hand. Implies \
        $(b,--assume-depexts), and stores the exceptions upon success as well."
   in
+  let verbose_on =
+    mk_opt ~cli (cli_from cli2_3) ~section ["verbose-on"] "PACKAGES"
+      "Be more verbose on specific packages.\
+       This is equivalent to setting $(b,\\$OPAMVERBOSE)."
+      Arg.(some (list package_name)) None
+  in
   Term.(const create_build_options
         $keep_build_dir $reuse_build_dir $inplace_build $make
         $no_checksums $req_checksums $build_test $build_doc $dev_setup $show
         $dryrun $skip_update $fake $jobs_flag ~section cli cli_original
         $ignore_constraints_on $unlock_base $locked $lock_suffix
-        $assume_depexts $no_depexts)
+        $assume_depexts $no_depexts $verbose_on)
 
 (* Option common to install commands *)
 let assume_built ?section cli =
diff --git a/src/client/opamClientConfig.ml b/src/client/opamClientConfig.ml
index c7acdbd72ef..8d9490d5ab8 100644
--- a/src/client/opamClientConfig.ml
+++ b/src/client/opamClientConfig.ml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ module E = struct
     | SKIPUPDATE of bool option
     | STATS of bool option
     | WORKINGDIR of bool option
+    | VERBOSEON of string list option
 
   open OpamStd.Config.E
   let assumedepexts = value (function ASSUMEDEPEXTS b -> b | _ -> None)
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ module E = struct
   let skipupdate = value (function SKIPUPDATE b -> b | _ -> None)
   let stats = value (function STATS b -> b | _ -> None)
   let workingdir = value (function WORKINGDIR b -> b | _ -> None)
+  let verboseon = value (function VERBOSEON s -> s | _ -> None)
 
 end
 
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@ type t = {
   assume_depexts: bool;
   cli: OpamCLIVersion.t;
   scrubbed_environment_variables: string list;
+  verbose_on : OpamTypes.name_set;
 }
 
 let default = {
@@ -98,6 +101,7 @@ let default = {
   assume_depexts = false;
   cli = OpamCLIVersion.current;
   scrubbed_environment_variables = [];
+  verbose_on = OpamPackage.Name.Set.empty;
 }
 
 type 'a options_fun =
@@ -120,6 +124,7 @@ type 'a options_fun =
   ?assume_depexts:bool ->
   ?cli:OpamCLIVersion.t ->
   ?scrubbed_environment_variables:string list ->
+  ?verbose_on:OpamTypes.name_set ->
   'a
 
 let setk k t
@@ -142,6 +147,7 @@ let setk k t
     ?assume_depexts
     ?cli
     ?scrubbed_environment_variables
+    ?verbose_on
   =
   let (+) x opt = match opt with Some x -> x | None -> x in
   k {
@@ -163,7 +169,8 @@ let setk k t
     no_auto_upgrade = t.no_auto_upgrade + no_auto_upgrade;
     assume_depexts = t.assume_depexts + assume_depexts;
     cli = t.cli + cli;
-    scrubbed_environment_variables = t.scrubbed_environment_variables + scrubbed_environment_variables
+    scrubbed_environment_variables = t.scrubbed_environment_variables + scrubbed_environment_variables;
+    verbose_on = t.verbose_on + verbose_on;
   }
 
 let set t = setk (fun x () -> x) t
@@ -198,6 +205,10 @@ let initk k =
     ?assume_depexts:(E.assumedepexts ())
     ?cli:None
     ?scrubbed_environment_variables:None
+    ?verbose_on:
+      (E.verboseon () >>= function
+        | [] -> None
+        | vo -> Some (OpamPackage.Name.(Set.of_list (List.map of_string vo))))
 
 let init ?noop:_ = initk (fun () -> ())
 
diff --git a/src/client/opamClientConfig.mli b/src/client/opamClientConfig.mli
index a11077c8e13..6adeeafb1d0 100644
--- a/src/client/opamClientConfig.mli
+++ b/src/client/opamClientConfig.mli
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ module E: sig
     | SKIPUPDATE of bool option
     | STATS of bool option
     | WORKINGDIR of bool option
+    | VERBOSEON of string list option
     val cli: unit -> string option
     val rootisok: unit -> bool option
     val noaggregate: unit -> bool option
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ type t = private {
   assume_depexts: bool;
   cli: OpamCLIVersion.t;
   scrubbed_environment_variables: string list;
+  verbose_on:OpamTypes.name_set;
 }
 
 type 'a options_fun =
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ type 'a options_fun =
   ?assume_depexts:bool ->
   ?cli:OpamCLIVersion.t ->
   ?scrubbed_environment_variables:string list ->
+  ?verbose_on:OpamTypes.name_set -> 
   'a
   (* constraint 'a = 'b -> 'c *)
 
@@ -120,6 +123,7 @@ val opam_init:
   ?assume_depexts:bool ->
   ?cli:OpamCLIVersion.t ->
   ?scrubbed_environment_variables:string list ->
+  ?verbose_on:OpamTypes.name_set ->
   ?original_root_dir:OpamTypes.dirname ->
   ?current_switch:OpamSwitch.t ->
   ?switch_from:OpamStateTypes.provenance ->
diff --git a/src/core/opamStd.ml b/src/core/opamStd.ml
index ddcf8c3de41..e18e58849ca 100644
--- a/src/core/opamStd.ml
+++ b/src/core/opamStd.ml
@@ -1854,6 +1854,9 @@ module Config = struct
   let env_string var =
     env (fun s -> s) var
 
+  let env_string_list var =
+    env (fun s -> OpamString.split s ',') var
+
   let env_float var =
     env float_of_string var
 
diff --git a/src/core/opamStd.mli b/src/core/opamStd.mli
index 3ba4aa261f0..4e89f7115a3 100644
--- a/src/core/opamStd.mli
+++ b/src/core/opamStd.mli
@@ -698,6 +698,8 @@ module Config : sig
 
   val env_string: env_var -> string option
 
+  val env_string_list : env_var -> string list option
+
   val env_float: env_var -> float option
 
   val env_when: env_var -> when_ option
diff --git a/tests/reftests/dune.inc b/tests/reftests/dune.inc
index 6cad84a211a..cbb93c3364b 100644
--- a/tests/reftests/dune.inc
+++ b/tests/reftests/dune.inc
@@ -1577,6 +1577,24 @@
    %{targets}
    (run ./run.exe %{exe:../../src/client/opamMain.exe.exe} %{dep:var-option.test} %{read-lines:testing-env}))))
 
+(rule
+ (alias reftest-verbose-on)
+ (action
+  (diff verbose-on.test verbose-on.out)))
+
+(alias
+ (name reftest)
+ (deps (alias reftest-verbose-on)))
+
+(rule
+ (targets verbose-on.out)
+ (deps root-N0REP0)
+ (package opam)
+ (action
+  (with-stdout-to
+   %{targets}
+   (run ./run.exe %{exe:../../src/client/opamMain.exe.exe} %{dep:verbose-on.test} %{read-lines:testing-env}))))
+
 (rule
  (alias reftest-with-dev-setup)
  (action
diff --git a/tests/reftests/verbose-on.test b/tests/reftests/verbose-on.test
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2c0b64af801
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/reftests/verbose-on.test
@@ -0,0 +1,312 @@
+N0REP0
+### <pkg:foo.1>
+opam-version: "2.0"
+build: [ "echo" name ]
+depends: "bar"
+### <pkg:bar.1>
+opam-version: "2.0"
+build: [ "echo" name ]
+depends: "baz"
+### <pkg:baz.1>
+opam-version: "2.0"
+build: [ "echo" name ]
+depends: "qux"
+### <pkg:qux.1>
+opam-version: "2.0"
+build: [ "echo" name ]
+### OPAMYES=1
+### opam switch create verbose-on --empty
+### : with --verbose-on option
+### opam install foo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== install 4 packages
+  - install bar 1 [required by foo]
+  - install baz 1 [required by bar]
+  - install foo 1
+  - install qux 1 [required by baz]
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
+-> installed bar.1
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### opam reinstall qux --verbose-on foo | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 1 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.1
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
+-> installed bar.1
++ echo "foo" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/foo.1)
+- foo
+-> compiled  foo.1
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### opam reinstall qux --verbose-on bar | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 1 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.1
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
++ echo "bar" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/bar.1)
+- bar
+-> compiled  bar.1
+-> installed bar.1
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### opam reinstall qux --verbose-on bar,qux | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 1 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
++ echo "qux" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/qux.1)
+- qux
+-> compiled  qux.1
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.1
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
++ echo "bar" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/bar.1)
+- bar
+-> compiled  bar.1
+-> installed bar.1
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### opam reinstall qux --verbose-on foo,bar,baz,qux | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 1 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
++ echo "qux" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/qux.1)
+- qux
+-> compiled  qux.1
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.1
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
++ echo "baz" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/baz.1)
+- baz
+-> compiled  baz.1
+-> installed baz.1
++ echo "bar" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/bar.1)
+- bar
+-> compiled  bar.1
+-> installed bar.1
++ echo "foo" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/foo.1)
+- foo
+-> compiled  foo.1
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### : unknown package
+### opam reinstall qux --verbose-on unknown-pkg | unordered
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 1 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.1
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
+-> installed bar.1
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### : upgrade
+### <pkg:bar.2>
+opam-version: "2.0"
+build: [ "echo" name ]
+depends: "baz"
+### opam upgrade --verbose-on bar | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 1 package
+  - recompile foo 1      [uses bar]
+=== upgrade 1 package
+  - upgrade   bar 1 to 2
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.1
+-> installed bar.2
++ echo "bar" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/bar.2)
+- bar
+-> compiled  bar.2
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### : with OPAMVERBOSEON environment variable
+### OPAMVERBOSEON=foo
+### opam reinstall qux | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 2 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.2
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
+-> installed bar.2
++ echo "foo" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/foo.1)
+- foo
+-> compiled  foo.1
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### OPAMVERBOSEON=bar
+### opam reinstall qux | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 2 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.2
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
++ echo "bar" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/bar.2)
+- bar
+-> compiled  bar.2
+-> installed bar.2
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### OPAMVERBOSEON=baz,qux
+### opam reinstall qux | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 2 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
++ echo "qux" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/qux.1)
+- qux
+-> compiled  qux.1
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.2
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
++ echo "baz" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/baz.1)
+- baz
+-> compiled  baz.1
+-> installed baz.1
+-> installed bar.2
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### OPAMVERBOSEON=foo,bar,baz,qux
+### opam reinstall qux | unordered | sed-cmd echo
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 2 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
++ echo "qux" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/qux.1)
+- qux
+-> compiled  qux.1
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.2
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
++ echo "baz" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/baz.1)
+- baz
+-> compiled  baz.1
+-> installed baz.1
++ echo "bar" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/bar.2)
+- bar
+-> compiled  bar.2
+-> installed bar.2
++ echo "foo" (CWD=${BASEDIR}/OPAM/verbose-on/.opam-switch/build/foo.1)
+- foo
+-> compiled  foo.1
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### OPAMVERBOSEON=""
+### opam reinstall qux | unordered
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 2 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.2
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
+-> installed bar.2
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.
+### OPAMVERBOSEON=3
+### opam reinstall qux
+Fatal error: Package name "3" should contain at least one letter
+# Return code 99 #
+### OPAMVERBOSEON=unknown-pkg
+### opam reinstall qux | unordered
+The following actions will be performed:
+=== recompile 4 packages
+  - recompile bar 2 [uses baz]
+  - recompile baz 1 [uses qux]
+  - recompile foo 1 [uses bar]
+  - recompile qux 1
+
+<><> Processing actions <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
+-> removed   foo.1
+-> removed   bar.2
+-> removed   baz.1
+-> removed   qux.1
+-> installed qux.1
+-> installed baz.1
+-> installed bar.2
+-> installed foo.1
+Done.