diff --git a/Shorewall/compiler b/Shorewall/compiler
index 3d438d2c4..f02014436 100755
--- a/Shorewall/compiler
+++ b/Shorewall/compiler
@@ -8419,7 +8419,7 @@ __EOF__
     # These variables are required by the library functions called in this script
     #
     [ -n \${COMMAND:=restart} ]
-    [ -n \${VERBOSE:=0} ]
+    VERBOSE=${VERBOSE:=0}
     MODULESDIR="$MODULESDIR"
     MODULE_SUFFIX="$MODULE_SUFFIX"
     LOGLIMIT="$LOGLIMIT"
diff --git a/Shorewall/prog.footer b/Shorewall/prog.footer
index f9d3791c2..9f2124759 100644
--- a/Shorewall/prog.footer
+++ b/Shorewall/prog.footer
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ while [ $finished -eq 0 -a $# -gt 0 ]; do
 			VERBOSE=$(($VERBOSE + 1 ))
 			option=${option#v}
 			;;
+		    q*)
+			VERBOSE=$(($VERBOSE - 1 ))
+			option=${option#v}
+			;;
 		    n*)
 			NOROUTES=Yes
 			option=${option#n}