diff --git a/charmcraft/parts/plugins/_reactive.py b/charmcraft/parts/plugins/_reactive.py
index 8bca89bcd..818e610c0 100644
--- a/charmcraft/parts/plugins/_reactive.py
+++ b/charmcraft/parts/plugins/_reactive.py
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 from craft_parts import plugins
 from craft_parts.errors import PluginEnvironmentValidationError
 
+VERBOSITY_PARAMS = frozenset({"-v", "--verbose", "--debug", "-l", "--log-level"})
+
 
 class ReactivePluginProperties(plugins.PluginProperties, frozen=True):
     """Properties used to pack reactive charms using charm-tools."""
@@ -156,6 +158,27 @@ def run_charm_tool(args: list[str]):
         )
 
 
+def _get_charm_build_command(charm_build_arguments: list[str], build_dir: Path):
+    """Get a charm build command based on arguments."""
+    cmd = ["charm", "build"]
+
+    # If the user doesn't pass a verbosity, we want to make it verbose.
+    if not VERBOSITY_PARAMS & set(charm_build_arguments):
+        # Check for things like -ldebug or --log-level=debug
+        for argument in charm_build_arguments:
+            if argument.startswith("-l") or argument.startswith("--log-level"):
+                break
+        else:
+            cmd.append("--verbose")
+
+    if charm_build_arguments:
+        cmd.extend(charm_build_arguments)
+
+    cmd.extend(["-o", str(build_dir)])
+
+    return cmd
+
+
 def build(
     *,
     charm_name: str,
@@ -193,10 +216,7 @@ def build(
     if not charm_build_dir.exists():
         charm_build_dir.symlink_to(install_dir, target_is_directory=True)
 
-    cmd = ["charm", "build"]
-    if charm_build_arguments:
-        cmd.extend(charm_build_arguments)
-    cmd.extend(["-o", str(build_dir)])
+    cmd = _get_charm_build_command(charm_build_arguments, build_dir)
 
     try:
         run_charm_tool(cmd)
diff --git a/tests/unit/parts/plugins/test_reactive.py b/tests/unit/parts/plugins/test_reactive.py
index 942883f0e..7e064aa1b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/parts/plugins/test_reactive.py
+++ b/tests/unit/parts/plugins/test_reactive.py
@@ -180,6 +180,71 @@ def fake_run():
     patcher.stop()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("arguments", "build_dir", "expected"),
+    [
+        pytest.param(
+            [],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "--verbose", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="default",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            ["-c"],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "--verbose", "-c", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="unrelated-param",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            ["--verbose"],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "--verbose", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="--verbose",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            ["-v"],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "-v", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="-v",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            ["--debug"],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "--debug", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="--debug",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            ["-l", "debug"],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "-l", "debug", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="-l debug",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            ["--log-level", "debug"],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "--log-level", "debug", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="--log-level debug",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            ["-ldebug"],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "-ldebug", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="-ldebug",
+        ),
+        pytest.param(
+            ["--log-level=debug"],
+            pathlib.Path("some-install-dir"),
+            ["charm", "build", "--log-level=debug", "-o", "some-install-dir"],
+            id="--log-level=debug",
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_get_charm_build_command(
+    arguments: list[str], build_dir: pathlib.Path, expected: list[str]
+):
+    assert _reactive._get_charm_build_command(arguments, build_dir) == expected
+
+
 def test_build(build_dir, install_dir, fake_run):
     fake_run.return_value = CompletedProcess(("charm", "build"), 0)
     returncode = _reactive.build(
@@ -197,6 +262,7 @@ def test_build(build_dir, install_dir, fake_run):
             [
                 "charm",
                 "build",
+                "--verbose",
                 "--charm-argument",
                 "--charm-argument-with",
                 "argument",
@@ -245,6 +311,7 @@ def test_build_charm_proof_raises_warning_messages_does_not_raise(
             [
                 "charm",
                 "build",
+                "--verbose",
                 "--charm-argument",
                 "--charm-argument-with",
                 "argument",
@@ -285,6 +352,7 @@ def _run_generator():
             [
                 "charm",
                 "build",
+                "--verbose",
                 "--charm-argument",
                 "--charm-argument-with",
                 "argument",
@@ -334,6 +402,7 @@ def _run_generator():
             [
                 "charm",
                 "build",
+                "--verbose",
                 "--charm-argument",
                 "--charm-argument-with",
                 "argument",