diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 68b9a8e2..2abc32dd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ A single line gets ignored if the first non-blank character is # in that line.
 * `POLL_INTERVAL_SECONDS` - (int) Number of seconds to wait between each check for new commits to the repo (default is 5). Set to 0 to disable the wait period.
 * <a name="run-interval"></a>`FULL_RUN_INTERVAL_SECONDS` - (int) Number of seconds between automatic full runs (default is 300, or 5 minutes). Set to 0 to disable the wait period.
 * `DIFF_URL_FORMAT` - (string) If specified, allows the status page to display a link to the source code referencing the diff for a specific commit. `DIFF_URL_FORMAT` should be a URL for a hosted remote repo that supports linking to a commit hash. Replace the commit hash portion with "%s" so it can be filled in by kube-applier (e.g. `https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/commit/%s`).
+* `LOG_LEVEL` - (int) Sets the `-v` flag on all `kubectl` commands run. Use this option to configure more verbose logging. If not specified, the `-v` flag is not set on `kubectl` commands defaulting to standard log verbosity.
 
 ### Mounting the Git Repository
 
diff --git a/kube/client.go b/kube/client.go
index c523b55b..1cd76db7 100644
--- a/kube/client.go
+++ b/kube/client.go
@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@ package kube
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/box/kube-applier/sysutil"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
 	"os/exec"
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/box/kube-applier/sysutil"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ type Client struct {
 	Server string
 	// Location of the written kubeconfig file within the container
 	kubeconfigFilePath string
+	// if <0, no verbosity level is specified in the commands run
+	LogLevel int
 }
 
 // Configure writes the kubeconfig file to be used for authenticating kubectl commands.
@@ -42,7 +45,7 @@ func (c *Client) Configure() error {
 
 	f, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "kubeConfig")
 	c.kubeconfigFilePath = f.Name()
-	log.Printf("Using kubeConfig file:", c.kubeconfigFilePath)
+	log.Printf("Using kubeConfig file: %s", c.kubeconfigFilePath)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error creating kubeconfig file: %v", err)
@@ -75,6 +78,9 @@ func (c *Client) Configure() error {
 // CheckVersion returns an error if the server and client have incompatible versions, otherwise returns nil.
 func (c *Client) CheckVersion() error {
 	args := []string{"kubectl", "version"}
+	if c.LogLevel > -1 {
+		args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("-v=%d", c.LogLevel))
+	}
 	if c.Server != "" {
 		args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--kubeconfig=%s", c.kubeconfigFilePath))
 	}
@@ -126,6 +132,9 @@ func isCompatible(clientMajor, clientMinor, serverMajor, serverMinor string) err
 // It returns the full apply command and its output.
 func (c *Client) Apply(path string) (cmd, output string, err error) {
 	args := []string{"kubectl", "apply", "-f", path}
+	if c.LogLevel > -1 {
+		args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("-v=%d", c.LogLevel))
+	}
 	if c.Server != "" {
 		args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--kubeconfig=%s", c.kubeconfigFilePath))
 	}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index ddb9bad8..56781eea 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"log"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
 	"github.com/box/kube-applier/applylist"
 	"github.com/box/kube-applier/git"
 	"github.com/box/kube-applier/kube"
@@ -8,9 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/box/kube-applier/run"
 	"github.com/box/kube-applier/sysutil"
 	"github.com/box/kube-applier/webserver"
-	"log"
-	"strings"
-	"time"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ func main() {
 	listenPort := sysutil.GetRequiredEnvInt("LISTEN_PORT")
 	server := sysutil.GetEnvStringOrDefault("SERVER", "")
 	blacklistPath := sysutil.GetEnvStringOrDefault("BLACKLIST_PATH", "")
+	logLevel := sysutil.GetEnvIntOrDefault("LOG_LEVEL", -1)
 
 	// A file that contains a list of files to consider for application.
 	// If the env var is not defined or if the file is empty act like a no-op and
@@ -49,7 +51,10 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	kubeClient := &kube.Client{Server: server}
+	kubeClient := &kube.Client{
+		Server:   server,
+		LogLevel: logLevel,
+	}
 	kubeClient.Configure()
 
 	gitUtil := &git.GitUtil{repoPath}