diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ae0c9f8..5e00433 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,3 +1,15 @@
+# verbosity level
+V := 0
+NIM_PARAMS := $(NIM_PARAMS) --verbosity:$(V)
+HANDLE_OUTPUT :=
+SILENT_TARGET_PREFIX := disabled
+ifeq ($(V), 0)
+  NIM_PARAMS := $(NIM_PARAMS) --hints:off
+  # don't swallow stderr, in case it's important
+  HANDLE_OUTPUT := >/dev/null
+  SILENT_TARGET_PREFIX :=
+endif
+
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 ##     RLN      ##
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