diff --git a/cdist/argparse.py b/cdist/argparse.py
index 3ccc0545..34493379 100644
--- a/cdist/argparse.py
+++ b/cdist/argparse.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ parser = None
 
 _verbosity_level_off = -2
 _verbosity_level = {
+    None: logging.WARNING,
     _verbosity_level_off: logging.OFF,
     -1: logging.ERROR,
     0: logging.WARNING,
diff --git a/cdist/preos/debootstrap/debootstrap.py b/cdist/preos/debootstrap/debootstrap.py
index 617d280b..bd8e5759 100644
--- a/cdist/preos/debootstrap/debootstrap.py
+++ b/cdist/preos/debootstrap/debootstrap.py
@@ -173,11 +173,11 @@ class Debian(object):
             env = vars(args)
             new_env = {}
             for key in env:
-                if key == 'verbose':
-                    if env[key] >= 3:
-                        new_env['debug'] = "yes"
-                    elif env[key] == 2:
-                        new_env['verbose'] = "yes"
+                if key == 'verbose' and env[key]:
+                        if env[key] >= 3:
+                            new_env['debug'] = "yes"
+                        elif env[key] == 2:
+                            new_env['verbose'] = "yes"
                 elif not env[key]:
                     new_env[key] = ''
                 elif isinstance(env[key], bool) and env[key]: