diff --git a/general.h b/general.h
index de52333cdc..b5a6ad870e 100644
--- a/general.h
+++ b/general.h
@@ -379,6 +379,7 @@ struct global
    bool has_set_libretro_device[MAX_PLAYERS];
    bool has_set_libretro;
    bool has_set_libretro_directory;
+   bool has_set_verbosity;
 
 #ifdef HAVE_RMENU
    char menu_texture_path[PATH_MAX];
diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index a40725510c..b596b8948b 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -892,6 +892,7 @@ static void parse_input(int argc, char *argv[])
    g_extern.has_set_state_path = false;
    g_extern.has_set_libretro = false;
    g_extern.has_set_libretro_directory = false;
+   g_extern.has_set_verbosity = false;
    *g_extern.subsystem = '\0';
 
    if (argc < 2)
@@ -1042,6 +1043,7 @@ static void parse_input(int argc, char *argv[])
 
          case 'v':
             g_extern.verbose = true;
+            g_extern.has_set_verbosity = true;
             break;
 
          case 'N':
diff --git a/settings.c b/settings.c
index bb72b08195..869cf44080 100644
--- a/settings.c
+++ b/settings.c
@@ -1023,7 +1023,9 @@ bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
    CONFIG_GET_BOOL(rgui_show_start_screen, "rgui_show_start_screen");
 #endif
    CONFIG_GET_INT(libretro_log_level, "libretro_log_level");
-   CONFIG_GET_BOOL_EXTERN(verbose, "log_verbosity");
+
+   if (!g_extern.has_set_verbosity)
+      CONFIG_GET_BOOL_EXTERN(verbose, "log_verbosity");
 
 #ifdef HAVE_OVERLAY
    CONFIG_GET_PATH_EXTERN(overlay_dir, "overlay_directory");