diff --git a/guix/scripts/environment.scm b/guix/scripts/environment.scm
index 2d1ba4c938..99c351ae43 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/environment.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/environment.scm
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ COMMAND or an interactive shell in that environment.\n"))
     (print-extended-build-trace? . #t)
     (multiplexed-build-output? . #t)
     (debug . 0)
-    (verbosity . 2)))
+    (verbosity . 1)))
 
 (define (tag-package-arg opts arg)
   "Return a two-element list with the form (TAG ARG) that tags ARG with either
diff --git a/guix/scripts/pack.scm b/guix/scripts/pack.scm
index d2ef68d153..b1d1e87c57 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/pack.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/pack.scm
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ please email '~a'~%")
     (print-extended-build-trace? . #t)
     (multiplexed-build-output? . #t)
     (debug . 0)
-    (verbosity . 2)
+    (verbosity . 1)
     (symlinks . ())
     (compressor . ,(first %compressors))))
 
diff --git a/guix/scripts/system.scm b/guix/scripts/system.scm
index 97508f4bd6..78aa6cf644 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/system.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/system.scm
@@ -1299,8 +1299,7 @@ argument list and OPTS is the option alist."
            (command  (assoc-ref opts 'action)))
       (parameterize ((%graft? (assoc-ref opts 'graft?)))
         (with-status-verbosity (or (assoc-ref opts 'verbosity)
-                                   (if (memq command '(init reconfigure))
-                                       1 2))
+                                   (if (eq? command 'build) 2 1))
           (process-command command args opts))))))
 
 ;;; Local Variables: