diff --git a/pycodestyle.py b/pycodestyle.py
index 5b7a39c1..f402bc2a 100755
--- a/pycodestyle.py
+++ b/pycodestyle.py
@@ -1995,8 +1995,9 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # build options from dict
         options_dict = dict(*args, **kwargs)
         arglist = None if parse_argv else options_dict.get('paths', None)
+        verbose = options_dict.get('verbose', False)
         options, self.paths = process_options(
-            arglist, parse_argv, config_file, parser)
+            arglist, parse_argv, config_file, parser, verbose)
         if options_dict:
             options.__dict__.update(options_dict)
             if 'paths' in options_dict:
@@ -2256,7 +2257,7 @@ def read_config(options, args, arglist, parser):
 
 
 def process_options(arglist=None, parse_argv=False, config_file=None,
-                    parser=None):
+                    parser=None, verbose=False):
     """Process options passed either via arglist or via command line args.
 
     Passing in the ``config_file`` parameter allows other tools, such as flake8
@@ -2280,6 +2281,9 @@ def process_options(arglist=None, parse_argv=False, config_file=None,
     (options, args) = parser.parse_args(arglist)
     options.reporter = None
 
+    if verbose:  # If specified verbose, continue on verbosity
+        options.verbose = verbose
+
     if options.ensure_value('testsuite', False):
         args.append(options.testsuite)
     elif not options.ensure_value('doctest', False):