diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 4c3a01d94..0b4589934 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -694,6 +694,8 @@ elif env['env_vars']:
     for name in env['env_vars'].split(','):
         if name in os.environ:
             env['ENV'][name] = os.environ[name]
+            if env['VERBOSE']:
+                print 'Propagating environment variable {0}={1}'.format(name, os.environ[name])
         elif name not in defaults.env_vars.split(','):
             print 'WARNING: failed to propagate environment variable', repr(name)
             print '         Edit cantera.conf or the build command line to fix this.'