diff --git a/wait-for-it.sh b/wait-for-it.sh
index e265009..ef54751 100755
--- a/wait-for-it.sh
+++ b/wait-for-it.sh
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ Usage:
                                 Alternatively, you specify the host and port as host:port
     -s | --strict               Only execute subcommand if the test succeeds
     -q | --quiet                Don't output any status messages
+    -v | --verbose              Output each failed attempt to connect
     -nc | --netcat              Force to use netcat instead of bash tcp detection
     -t TIMEOUT | --timeout=TIMEOUT
                                 Timeout in seconds, zero for no timeout
@@ -34,10 +35,14 @@ wait_for()
     while :
     do
         if [[ $WAITFORIT_ISBUSY -eq 1 ]] || [[ $WAITFORIT_NETCAT -eq 1 ]]; then
-            nc -z $WAITFORIT_HOST $WAITFORIT_PORT
+            nc -z${WAITFORIT_VERBOSE:-} $WAITFORIT_HOST $WAITFORIT_PORT
             WAITFORIT_result=$?
         else
-            (echo -n > /dev/tcp/$WAITFORIT_HOST/$WAITFORIT_PORT) >/dev/null 2>&1
+            if [[ -z "$WAITFORIT_VERBOSE" ]]; then
+                (echo -n > /dev/tcp/$WAITFORIT_HOST/$WAITFORIT_PORT) >/dev/null 2>&1
+            else
+                (echo -n > /dev/tcp/$WAITFORIT_HOST/$WAITFORIT_PORT)
+            fi
             WAITFORIT_result=$?
         fi
         if [[ $WAITFORIT_result -eq 0 ]]; then
@@ -82,6 +87,10 @@ do
         WAITFORIT_CHILD=1
         shift 1
         ;;
+        -v| --verbose)
+        export WAITFORIT_VERBOSE=v
+        shift 1
+        ;;
         -q | --quiet)
         WAITFORIT_QUIET=1
         shift 1