diff --git a/lib/spack/llnl/util/tty/__init__.py b/lib/spack/llnl/util/tty/__init__.py
index aba9e61f4f..48368543ff 100644
--- a/lib/spack/llnl/util/tty/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/spack/llnl/util/tty/__init__.py
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@
 _verbose = False
 indent  = "  "
 
+def is_verbose():
+    return _verbose
+
+
+def is_debug():
+    return _debug
+
+
 def set_debug(flag):
     global _debug
     _debug = flag