diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 553eb58..f2f4343 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -52,6 +52,6 @@ jobs:
           cache
           --host,="${{ inputs.hosts }}"
           --flake .
-          --debug
+          -vv
           --
           --keep-going
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update.yml b/.github/workflows/update.yml
index bf6560d..9703181 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update.yml
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ jobs:
           cache
           --host,="${{ env.hosts }}"
           --flake .
-          --debug
+          -vv
           --
           --quiet
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ jobs:
           ci update
           --host,="${{ env.hosts }}"
           --flake .
-          --debug
+          -vv
           --
           --quiet
 
diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys.nim b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys.nim
index 688fb8a..6cc01ea 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys.nim
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys.nim
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@ hwylCli:
     host:
       T seq[string]
       ? "host(s) to build"
-    debug:
-      ? "enable debug mode"
-      - d
+    verbose:
+      T Count
+      ? "increase verbosity (up to 2)"
+      - v
     resetCache:
       ? "set cache timeout to 0"
     [misc]
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ hwylCli:
       - m
   preSub:
     setupLoggers()
-    updateContext(host, flake, debug, resetCache)
+    updateContext(host, flake, verbose, resetCache)
 
   subcommands:
     [build]
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ hwylCli:
     # when really I want it to only happen in the lowest "subcommand"
     # needs to be fixed in hwylterm
     preSub:
-      updateContext(host, flake, debug, resetCache)
+      updateContext(host, flake, verbose, resetCache)
     subcommands:
       [update]
       ... "build current and updated hosts"
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ hwylCli:
       # TODO: support file operations like gh
       # i.e. @flake.lock means read a file a flake.lock and use it's contents
       if args.len == 0: fatalQuit "expected workflow file name"
-      let inputs = 
+      let inputs =
         inputs.mapIt((it.key, it.val)).toTable()
       createDispatch(args[0], `ref`, inputs)
 
diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/context.nim b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/context.nim
index fca6158..400f789 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/context.nim
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/context.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import std/[logging, os, strformat, strutils]
 from std/nativesockets import getHostname
 import hwylterm, hwylterm/logging
+from hwylterm/hwylcli import Count
 import ./logging
 
 type
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ type
     hosts: seq[string]
     debug: bool
     ci: bool
+    verbose: Count
     resetCache: bool
 
 let currentHost* = getHostName()
@@ -29,17 +31,17 @@ var oc = initContext()
 proc checkPath(s: string): string =
   ## fail if path doesn't exist
   if not s.dirExists: fatalQuit fmt"flake path: {s} does not exist"
-  s
+  result = s
 
 proc updateContext*(
   host: seq[string],
   flake: string,
-  debug: bool,
+  verbose: Count,
   resetCache: bool
 ) =
   if host.len > 0: oc.hosts = host
-  oc.debug = debug
-  if debug:
+  oc.verbose = verbose
+  if verbose.val > 1:
     consoleLogger.levelThreshold = lvlAll
   oc.resetCache = resetCache
   if flake != "":
@@ -49,8 +51,9 @@ proc updateContext*(
 
   debug bb(fmt"""[b]flake[/]: {oc.flake}, [b]hosts[/]: {oc.hosts.join(" ")}""")
 
+
+proc getVerbosity*(): int     = return oc.verbose.val
 proc getHosts*(): seq[string] = return oc.hosts
 proc getFlake*(): string      = return oc.flake
-proc isDebug*(): bool         = return oc.debug
 proc isResetCache*(): bool    = return oc.resetCache
 proc isCi*(): bool            = return oc.ci
diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/nix.nim b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/nix.nim
index e8e3477..36fcabe 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/nix.nim
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/nix.nim
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ proc display(msg: string, drvs: seq[Derivation]) =
     for drv in drvs:
       echo "  ", drv.name.trunc(maxLen).alignLeft(maxLen), " ", drv.hash.bb("faint")
 
-proc display(output: DryRunOutput) = 
-  if isDebug():
+proc display(output: DryRunOutput) =
+  if getVerbosity() > 0:
     display("to fetch", output.toFetch)
   else:
     echo fmt"to fetch: [bold cyan]{output.toFetch.len()}[/]".bb