diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/main.py b/lib/spack/spack/main.py
index 5f28ab480c..56a4dc0e33 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/main.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/main.py
@@ -1016,14 +1016,16 @@ def _main(argv=None):
         bootstrap_context = bootstrap.ensure_bootstrap_configuration()
 
     with bootstrap_context:
-        return finish_parse_and_run(parser, cmd_name, args.command, env_format_error)
+        return finish_parse_and_run(parser, cmd_name, args, env_format_error)
 
 
-def finish_parse_and_run(parser, cmd_name, cmd, env_format_error):
+def finish_parse_and_run(parser, cmd_name, main_args, env_format_error):
     """Finish parsing after we know the command to run."""
     # add the found command to the parser and re-run then re-parse
     command = parser.add_command(cmd_name)
-    args, unknown = parser.parse_known_args()
+    args, unknown = parser.parse_known_args(main_args.command)
+    # we need to inherit verbose since the install command checks for it
+    args.verbose = main_args.verbose
 
     # Now that we know what command this is and what its args are, determine
     # whether we can continue with a bad environment and raise if not.