diff --git a/functions.sh b/functions.sh
index 0c132fc..283c570 100644
--- a/functions.sh
+++ b/functions.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ sit_info() {
     local msg=$1
     echo "SIT: $msg"
 }
-
+sit_info_verbose() {
+    local msg=$1
+    if  [[ $verbose -gt 0 ]] ; then
+        echo "SIT verbose: $msg"
+    fi
+}
 
 sit_countdown() {
     local tt=$1
diff --git a/sit b/sit
index c3ff082..03e15a3 100755
--- a/sit
+++ b/sit
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ function show_help() {
     echo "    all"
 }
 
-verbose=0
-debug=0
+declare -i verbose=0
+declare -i debug=0
 sit_classfile="" # sit class file to be installed
 sit_action="all" # sit action to be performed
 
@@ -99,8 +99,10 @@ sit_info "Sit class file(s): $sit_classfile"
 # compiler to use
 # (gnu|intel|pgi)
 COMPILER=${COMPILER:=${DEFAULT_COMPILER}}
+sit_info_verbose "Compiler: $COMPILER"
 # use specific compiler version
 COMPILER_VERSION=${COMPILER_VERSION:=}
+sit_info_verbose "Compiler version: $COMPILER_VERSION"
 
 
 # Compiler specifications