diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index f8a8066ee21..c01f46230d9 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ py27_osx_build_wheels_ucs4: &py27_osx_build_wheels_ucs4
     - ${PYENV_ROOT}/bin/pyenv global 2.7.13
   script:
     - ./build-support/bin/ci.sh -2b
-    - RUN_PANTS_FROM_PEX=1 ./build-support/bin/release.sh -n
+    - PEX_VERBOSE=9 RUN_PANTS_FROM_PEX=1 ./build-support/bin/release.sh -n
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Rust tests
diff --git a/build-support/bin/release.sh b/build-support/bin/release.sh
index 2df73d4216c..a94b047262a 100755
--- a/build-support/bin/release.sh
+++ b/build-support/bin/release.sh
@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@ function activate_twine() {
 
 function execute_pex() {
   run_pex27 \
+      -vvvvvvvvv \
       --no-build \
       --no-pypi \
       --disable-cache \
diff --git a/build-support/travis/travis.yml.mustache b/build-support/travis/travis.yml.mustache
index f4dd20f0371..3b992968cb5 100644
--- a/build-support/travis/travis.yml.mustache
+++ b/build-support/travis/travis.yml.mustache
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ py27_osx_build_wheels_ucs4: &py27_osx_build_wheels_ucs4
     - ${PYENV_ROOT}/bin/pyenv global 2.7.13
   script:
     - ./build-support/bin/ci.sh -2b
-    - RUN_PANTS_FROM_PEX=1 ./build-support/bin/release.sh -n
+    - PEX_VERBOSE=9 RUN_PANTS_FROM_PEX=1 ./build-support/bin/release.sh -n
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Rust tests