diff --git a/cmd/mbf/cache.go b/cmd/mbf/cache.go
index 5c89ca10..05fa7070 100644
--- a/cmd/mbf/cache.go
+++ b/cmd/mbf/cache.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ type cache struct {
 
 	cures, jobs        int
 	hostAbstract, idle bool
+	verboseInit        bool
 
 	base string
 }
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ func (cache *cache) open() (err error) {
 	if cache.hostAbstract {
 		flags |= pkg.CHostAbstract
 	}
+	if !cache.verboseInit {
+		flags |= pkg.CSuppressInit
+	}
 
 	done := make(chan struct{})
 	defer close(done)
diff --git a/cmd/mbf/main.go b/cmd/mbf/main.go
index 44dd7b32..030d9325 100644
--- a/cmd/mbf/main.go
+++ b/cmd/mbf/main.go
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ func main() {
 		&flagCheck,
 		"check", command.BoolFlag(true),
 		"Run test suites",
+	).Flag(
+		&cm.verboseInit,
+		"v", command.BoolFlag(false),
+		"Do not suppress verbose output from init",
 	).Flag(
 		&cm.cures,
 		"cures", command.IntFlag(0),
@@ -710,6 +714,7 @@ func main() {
 				z.Hostname = "localhost"
 				z.Uid, z.Gid = (1<<10)-1, (1<<10)-1
 				z.Stdin, z.Stdout, z.Stderr = os.Stdin, os.Stdout, os.Stderr
+				z.Quiet = !cm.verboseInit
 				if s, ok := os.LookupEnv("TERM"); ok {
 					z.Env = append(z.Env, "TERM="+s)
 				}