diff --git a/src/gitsweep/base.py b/src/gitsweep/base.py
index 500f010..623adcc 100644
--- a/src/gitsweep/base.py
+++ b/src/gitsweep/base.py
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@ class BaseOperation(object):
     Base class for all Git-related operations.
 
     """
-    def __init__(self, repo, remote_name='origin', master_branch='master'):
+    def __init__(self, repo, remote_name='origin', master_branch='master', verbose=False):
         self.repo = repo
         self.remote_name = remote_name
         self.master_branch = master_branch
+        self.verbose = verbose
 
     def _filtered_remotes(self, origin, skip=[]):
         """
diff --git a/src/gitsweep/cli.py b/src/gitsweep/cli.py
index 6b995b5..c998149 100644
--- a/src/gitsweep/cli.py
+++ b/src/gitsweep/cli.py
@@ -44,8 +44,14 @@ class CommandLine(object):
         'action': 'store_false',
         'default': True}
 
+    _verbose_kwargs = {
+        'help': 'Verbose output',
+        'dest': 'verbose',
+        'action': 'store_true',
+        'default': False}
+
     _preview_usage = dedent('''
-        git-sweep preview [-h] [--nofetch] [--skip SKIPS]
+        git-sweep preview [-h] [--verbose] [--nofetch] [--skip SKIPS]
                               [--master MASTER] [--origin ORIGIN]
         '''.strip())
 
@@ -56,10 +62,11 @@ class CommandLine(object):
     _preview.add_argument('--master', **_master_kwargs)
     _preview.add_argument('--nofetch', **_no_fetch_kwargs)
     _preview.add_argument('--skip', **_skip_kwargs)
+    _preview.add_argument('--verbose', **_verbose_kwargs)
     _preview.set_defaults(action='preview')
 
     _cleanup_usage = dedent('''
-        git-sweep cleanup [-h] [--nofetch] [--skip SKIPS] [--force]
+        git-sweep cleanup [-h] [--verbose] [--nofetch] [--skip SKIPS] [--force]
                               [--master MASTER] [--origin ORIGIN]
         '''.strip())
 
@@ -72,6 +79,7 @@ class CommandLine(object):
     _cleanup.add_argument('--master', **_master_kwargs)
     _cleanup.add_argument('--nofetch', **_no_fetch_kwargs)
     _cleanup.add_argument('--skip', **_skip_kwargs)
+    _cleanup.add_argument('--verbose', **_verbose_kwargs)
     _cleanup.set_defaults(action='cleanup')
 
     def __init__(self, args):
@@ -122,7 +130,7 @@ def _sweep(self):
 
         # Find branches that could be merged
         inspector = Inspector(repo, remote_name=remote_name,
-            master_branch=master_branch)
+            master_branch=master_branch, verbose=args.verbose)
         ok_to_delete = inspector.merged_refs(skip=skips)
 
         if ok_to_delete:
diff --git a/src/gitsweep/inspector.py b/src/gitsweep/inspector.py
index 51b111a..8ebbcb3 100644
--- a/src/gitsweep/inspector.py
+++ b/src/gitsweep/inspector.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import sys
 from git import Git
 
 from .base import BaseOperation
@@ -24,11 +25,17 @@ def merged_refs(self, skip=[]):
             origin, skip=['HEAD', self.master_branch] + skip)
         merged = []
 
-        for ref in refs:
+        num_refs = len(refs)
+        if self.verbose:
+            sys.stdout.write("Found %d remote refs\n" % num_refs)
+
+        for idx, ref in enumerate(refs):
             upstream = '{origin}/{master}'.format(
                 origin=origin.name, master=master.remote_head)
             head = '{origin}/{branch}'.format(
                 origin=origin.name, branch=ref.remote_head)
+            if self.verbose:
+                sys.stdout.write("Checking %s (%d/%d)...\n" % (head, idx + 1, num_refs))
             cmd = Git(self.repo.working_dir)
             # Drop to the git binary to do this, it's just easier to work with
             # at this level.
@@ -36,8 +43,13 @@ def merged_refs(self, skip=[]):
                 ['git', 'cherry', upstream, head],
                 with_extended_output=True, with_exceptions=False)
             if retcode == 0 and not stdout:
+                if self.verbose:
+                    sys.stdout.write("...merged (ok to delete)\n")
                 # This means there are no commits in the branch that are not
                 # also in the master branch. This is ready to be deleted.
                 merged.append(ref)
+            else:
+                if self.verbose:
+                    sys.stdout.write("...not merged\n")
 
         return merged
diff --git a/src/gitsweep/tests/test_cli.py b/src/gitsweep/tests/test_cli.py
index 9ddd6ce..a3238dc 100644
--- a/src/gitsweep/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/src/gitsweep/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -79,6 +79,43 @@ def test_will_preview(self):
             To delete them, run again with `git-sweep cleanup`
             ''', stdout)
 
+    def test_verbose_preview(self):
+        """
+        Will show verbose output when previewing the proposed deletes.
+        """
+        for i in range(1, 6):
+            self.command('git checkout -b branch{0}'.format(i))
+            self.make_commit()
+            self.command('git checkout master')
+            self.make_commit()
+            self.command('git merge branch{0}'.format(i))
+
+        (retcode, stdout, stderr) = self.gscommand('git-sweep preview --verbose')
+
+        self.assertResults('''
+            Fetching from the remote
+            Found 5 remote refs
+            Checking origin/branch1 (1/5)...
+            ...merged (ok to delete)
+            Checking origin/branch2 (2/5)...
+            ...merged (ok to delete)
+            Checking origin/branch3 (3/5)...
+            ...merged (ok to delete)
+            Checking origin/branch4 (4/5)...
+            ...merged (ok to delete)
+            Checking origin/branch5 (5/5)...
+            ...merged (ok to delete)
+            These branches have been merged into master:
+
+              branch1
+              branch2
+              branch3
+              branch4
+              branch5
+
+            To delete them, run again with `git-sweep cleanup --verbose`
+            ''', stdout)
+
     def test_will_preserve_arguments(self):
         """
         The recommended cleanup command contains the same arguments given.