diff --git a/features.in/stage2/stage1/scripts.d/03-test-kernel b/features.in/stage2/stage1/scripts.d/03-test-kernel
index d9f27c2f..12e68e4b 100755
--- a/features.in/stage2/stage1/scripts.d/03-test-kernel
+++ b/features.in/stage2/stage1/scripts.d/03-test-kernel
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ GZ_OPTS="-comp gzip -noI"
 XZ_OPTS="-comp xz"
 LZO_OPTS="-comp lzo -noI"
 
-verbose() { [ -n "$GLOBAL_VERBOSE" ] && echo "** $@" >&2; }
+verbose() { [ -z "$GLOBAL_VERBOSE" ] || echo "** $@" >&2; }
 fatal() { echo "** error: $@" >&2; exit 1; }
 
 configured()