diff --git a/src/cmd/cc/lex.c b/src/cmd/cc/lex.c
index 4248437643..55fc36b1e0 100644
--- a/src/cmd/cc/lex.c
+++ b/src/cmd/cc/lex.c
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	
 	flagparse(&argc, &argv, usage);
 	ctxt->debugasm = debug['S'];
+	ctxt->debugvlog = debug['v'];
 
 	if(argc < 1 && outfile == 0)
 		usage();
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/lex.c b/src/cmd/gc/lex.c
index 291edb859d..b8252a225e 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/lex.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/lex.c
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	flagparse(&argc, &argv, usage);
 	ctxt->debugasm = debug['S'];
+	ctxt->debugvlog = debug['v'];
 
 	if(argc < 1)
 		usage();