diff --git a/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py b/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
index bfba1a0dede24..0f85ba81d1268 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
+++ b/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
@@ -127,13 +127,13 @@ def unpack(tarball, dst, verbose=False, match=None):
             shutil.move(tp, fp)
     shutil.rmtree(os.path.join(dst, fname))
 
-def run(args, verbose=False, exception=False, cwd=None):
+def run(args, verbose=False, exception=False, cwd=None, env=None):
     if verbose:
         print("running: " + ' '.join(args))
     sys.stdout.flush()
     # Use Popen here instead of call() as it apparently allows powershell on
     # Windows to not lock up waiting for input presumably.
-    ret = subprocess.Popen(args, cwd=cwd)
+    ret = subprocess.Popen(args, cwd=cwd, env=env)
     code = ret.wait()
     if code != 0:
         err = "failed to run: " + ' '.join(args)
@@ -385,17 +385,15 @@ def build_bootstrap(self):
             raise Exception("no cargo executable found at `%s`" % self.cargo())
         args = [self.cargo(), "build", "--manifest-path",
                 os.path.join(self.rust_root, "src/bootstrap/Cargo.toml")]
+        if self.verbose:
+            args.append("--verbose")
+            if self.verbose > 1:
+                args.append("--verbose")
         if self.use_locked_deps:
             args.append("--locked")
         if self.use_vendored_sources:
             args.append("--frozen")
-        self.run(args, env)
-
-    def run(self, args, env=None, cwd=None):
-        proc = subprocess.Popen(args, env=env, cwd=cwd)
-        ret = proc.wait()
-        if ret != 0:
-            sys.exit(ret)
+        run(args, env=env, verbose=self.verbose)
 
     def output(self, args, env=None, cwd=None):
         default_encoding = sys.getdefaultencoding()
@@ -567,7 +565,7 @@ def update_submodules(self):
             path = line[1:].split(' ')[1]
             submodules.append([path, line[0]])
 
-        self.run(["git", "submodule", "sync"], cwd=self.rust_root)
+        run(["git", "submodule", "sync"], cwd=self.rust_root)
 
         for submod in submodules:
             path, status = submod
@@ -580,15 +578,15 @@ def update_submodules(self):
             submod_path = os.path.join(self.rust_root, path)
 
             if status == ' ':
-                self.run(["git", "reset", "--hard"], cwd=submod_path)
-                self.run(["git", "clean", "-fdx"], cwd=submod_path)
+                run(["git", "reset", "--hard"], cwd=submod_path)
+                run(["git", "clean", "-fdx"], cwd=submod_path)
             elif status == '+':
-                self.run(["git", "submodule", "update", path], cwd=self.rust_root)
-                self.run(["git", "reset", "--hard"], cwd=submod_path)
-                self.run(["git", "clean", "-fdx"], cwd=submod_path)
+                run(["git", "submodule", "update", path], cwd=self.rust_root)
+                run(["git", "reset", "--hard"], cwd=submod_path)
+                run(["git", "clean", "-fdx"], cwd=submod_path)
             elif status == '-':
-                self.run(["git", "submodule", "init", path], cwd=self.rust_root)
-                self.run(["git", "submodule", "update", path], cwd=self.rust_root)
+                run(["git", "submodule", "init", path], cwd=self.rust_root)
+                run(["git", "submodule", "update", path], cwd=self.rust_root)
             else:
                 raise ValueError('unknown submodule status: ' + status)
 
@@ -620,6 +618,11 @@ def bootstrap():
     except:
         pass
 
+    if '\nverbose = 2' in rb.config_toml:
+        rb.verbose = 2
+    elif '\nverbose = 1' in rb.config_toml:
+        rb.verbose = 1
+
     rb.use_vendored_sources = '\nvendor = true' in rb.config_toml or \
                               'CFG_ENABLE_VENDOR' in rb.config_mk
 
@@ -676,7 +679,7 @@ def bootstrap():
     env["BUILD"] = rb.build
     env["SRC"] = rb.rust_root
     env["BOOTSTRAP_PARENT_ID"] = str(os.getpid())
-    rb.run(args, env)
+    run(args, env=env, verbose=rb.verbose)
 
 def main():
     start_time = time()