diff --git a/src/worker/src/main.c b/src/worker/src/main.c
index 4beaaf42..291a1932 100644
--- a/src/worker/src/main.c
+++ b/src/worker/src/main.c
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
     int                          opt;
     int                          ret                = XCECD_OK;
+    int                          verbose            = 0;
     __attribute__((unused)) char worker_log[1024]   = { 0 };
     const char*                  peers_str          = NULL;
     xce_cluster_config_t         cluster_cfg        = {0};
@@ -345,7 +346,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         { NULL,    0,                 NULL, 0          }
     };
 
-    while ((opt = getopt_long(argc, argv, "n:l:h", long_opts, NULL))
+    while ((opt = getopt_long(argc, argv, "n:l:vh", long_opts, NULL))
            != -1) {
         switch (opt) {
         case 'n':
@@ -359,12 +360,15 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
                 logdir = strdup(optarg);
             }
             break;
+        case 'v':
+            verbose++;
+            break;
         case OPT_PEERS:
             peers_str = optarg;
             break;
         case 'h':
         default:
-            printf("Usage: %s [-n name] [-l log_dir] "
+            printf("Usage: %s [-n name] [-l log_dir] [-v] "
                    "[--peers ctrl-1=host:port,...] "
                    "[-h help]\n",
                    argv[0]);
@@ -372,6 +376,16 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         }
     }
 
+    /* Map -v count to log level (same pattern as controller/scheduler).
+     * 0=INFO (default), 1=DEBUG, 2=DEBUG2, 3+=DEBUG3. */
+    if (verbose >= 3) {
+        config.debug_level = XCE_LOG_DEBUG3;
+    } else if (verbose == 2) {
+        config.debug_level = XCE_LOG_DEBUG2;
+    } else if (verbose == 1) {
+        config.debug_level = XCE_LOG_DEBUG;
+    }
+
     /* Performed after argument parsing so -h/--help exits immediately
      * without requiring root privileges. */
     check_user();