diff --git a/hack/local-up-cluster.sh b/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
index 9c82280533d..60c1a7ff929 100755
--- a/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
+++ b/hack/local-up-cluster.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-set -x
+KUBE_VERBOSE=${KUBE_VERBOSE:-1}
+if (( KUBE_VERBOSE > 4 )); then
+  set -x
+fi
 
 KUBE_ROOT=$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/..