diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9a919428a726..ed5ce58196be 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -69,9 +69,8 @@ unexport GREP_OPTIONS
 #
 #    $(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=scripts/basic
 #
-# If KBUILD_VERBOSE equals 0 then the above command will be hidden.
-# If KBUILD_VERBOSE equals 1 then the above command is displayed.
-# If KBUILD_VERBOSE equals 2 then give the reason why each target is rebuilt.
+# If KBUILD_VERBOSE contains 1, the whole command is echoed.
+# If KBUILD_VERBOSE contains 2, the reason for rebuilding is printed.
 #
 # To put more focus on warnings, be less verbose as default
 # Use 'make V=1' to see the full commands
@@ -83,12 +82,12 @@ ifndef KBUILD_VERBOSE
   KBUILD_VERBOSE = 0
 endif
 
-ifeq ($(KBUILD_VERBOSE),1)
+quiet = quiet_
+Q = @
+
+ifneq ($(findstring 1, $(KBUILD_VERBOSE)),)
   quiet =
   Q =
-else
-  quiet=quiet_
-  Q = @
 endif
 
 # If the user is running make -s (silent mode), suppress echoing of
@@ -1775,8 +1774,9 @@ help:
 		printf "  %-16s - Show all of the above\\n" help-boards; \
 		echo '')
 
-	@echo  '  make V=0|1 [targets] 0 => quiet build (default), 1 => verbose build'
-	@echo  '  make V=2   [targets] 2 => give reason for rebuild of target'
+	@echo  '  make V=n   [targets] 0: quiet build (default), 1: verbose build'
+	@echo  '                       2: give reason for rebuild of target'
+	@echo  '                       V=1 and V=2 can be combined with V=12'
 	@echo  '  make O=dir [targets] Locate all output files in "dir", including .config'
 	@echo  '  make C=1   [targets] Check re-compiled c source with $$CHECK'
 	@echo  '                       (sparse by default)'
diff --git a/arch/x86/tools/Makefile b/arch/x86/tools/Makefile
index bddfc9a46645..90e820ac9771 100644
--- a/arch/x86/tools/Makefile
+++ b/arch/x86/tools/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 PHONY += posttest
 
-ifeq ($(KBUILD_VERBOSE),1)
+ifneq ($(findstring 1, $(KBUILD_VERBOSE)),)
   posttest_verbose = -v
 else
   posttest_verbose =
diff --git a/scripts/Kbuild.include b/scripts/Kbuild.include
index faae3c7986b0..10cf8d2d82ef 100644
--- a/scripts/Kbuild.include
+++ b/scripts/Kbuild.include
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ clean := -f $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.clean obj
 # If quiet is empty, print short log and whole command
 silent_log_print = exec >/dev/null;
  quiet_log_print = $(if $(quiet_cmd_$1), echo '  $(call escsq,$(quiet_cmd_$1)$(why))';)
-       log_print = echo '$(pound) $(call escsq,$(or $(quiet_cmd_$1),cmd_$1 $@))'; \
+       log_print = echo '$(pound) $(call escsq,$(or $(quiet_cmd_$1),cmd_$1 $@)$(why))'; \
                    echo '  $(call escsq,$(cmd_$1))';
 
 # Delete the target on interruption
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ if_changed_rule = $(if $(if-changed-cond),$(rule_$(1)),@:)
 # (5) No dir/.target.cmd file (used to store command line)
 # (6) No dir/.target.cmd file and target not listed in $(targets)
 #     This is a good hint that there is a bug in the kbuild file
-ifeq ($(KBUILD_VERBOSE),2)
+ifneq ($(findstring 2, $(KBUILD_VERBOSE)),)
 _why =                                                                        \
     $(if $(filter $@, $(PHONY)),- due to target is PHONY,                    \
         $(if $(wildcard $@),                                                 \
diff --git a/scripts/tags.sh b/scripts/tags.sh
index e137cf15aae9..2e756bee1fa9 100755
--- a/scripts/tags.sh
+++ b/scripts/tags.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # Uses the following environment variables:
 # SUBARCH, SRCARCH, srctree
 
-if [ "$KBUILD_VERBOSE" = "1" ]; then
+if [[ "$KBUILD_VERBOSE" =~ 1 ]]; then
 	set -x
 fi