diff --git a/misc/core.func b/misc/core.func
index 2c2a5d5..cfde492 100644
--- a/misc/core.func
+++ b/misc/core.func
@@ -91,9 +91,11 @@ default_vars() {
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Sets default verbose mode for script and os execution.
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-echo "DEBUG: VERBOSE: '$VERBOSE'"
-VERBOSE="${1:-no}"
-echo "DEBUG: VERBOSE: '$VERBOSE'"
+if [ -z "${VERBOSE+x}" ]; then
+  echo "DEBUG: VERBOSE is unset"
+else
+  echo "DEBUG: VERBOSE (pre): '$VERBOSE'"
+fi
 
 set_std_mode() {
   if [ "$VERBOSE" = "yes" ]; then