diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index cdc0454..9c571da 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -339,3 +339,8 @@ verbose:
 
     * database access statistics.
 
+verbose-search-colors:
+    report the location of the colors file that was used.
+
+    With `--verbose-search-colors=2`, report all locations that are being
+    searched as well.
diff --git a/TileGenerator.cpp b/TileGenerator.cpp
index ddd3c8f..ce2e3e9 100644
--- a/TileGenerator.cpp
+++ b/TileGenerator.cpp
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ static inline int readBlockContent(const unsigned char *mapData, int version, in
 
 TileGenerator::TileGenerator():
 	verboseCoordinates(0),
+	verboseReadColors(0),
 	verboseStatistics(false),
 	progressIndicator(false),
 	m_bgColor(255, 255, 255),
@@ -326,12 +327,16 @@ void TileGenerator::setMaxY(int y)
 
 void TileGenerator::parseColorsFile(const std::string &fileName)
 {
+	if (verboseReadColors >= 2)
+		cout << "Checking for colors file: " << fileName << std::endl;
 	ifstream in;
 	in.open(fileName.c_str(), ifstream::in);
 	if (!in.is_open()) {
 		throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Failed to open colors file '") + fileName + "'");
 		return;
 	}
+	if (verboseReadColors >= 1)
+		cout << "Reading colors file:  " << fileName << std::endl;
 	parseColorsStream(in, fileName.c_str());
 	in.close();
 }
diff --git a/TileGenerator.h b/TileGenerator.h
index 0afe360..23b8584 100644
--- a/TileGenerator.h
+++ b/TileGenerator.h
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ private:
 
 public:
 	int verboseCoordinates;
+	int verboseReadColors;
 	bool verboseStatistics;
 	bool progressIndicator;
 
diff --git a/mapper.cpp b/mapper.cpp
index a4508b1..b260716 100644
--- a/mapper.cpp
+++ b/mapper.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ using namespace std;
 #define OPT_SQLITE_CACHEWORLDROW	0x81
 #define OPT_PROGRESS_INDICATOR		0x82
 #define OPT_DRAW_OBJECT			0x83
+#define OPT_VERBOSE_SEARCH_COLORS	0x86
 
 // Will be replaced with the actual name and location of the executable (if found)
 string executableName = "minetestmapper";
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ void usage()
 			"  --tileorigin <x>,<y>|world|map\n"
 			"  --tilecenter <x>,<y>|world|map\n"
 			"  --verbose[=n]\n"
+			"  --verbose-search-colors[=n]\n"
 			"  --progress\n"
 			"Color formats:\n"
 			"\t'#000' or '#000000'                                  (RGB)\n"
@@ -548,6 +550,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		{"tilecenter", required_argument, 0, 'T'},
 		{"tilebordercolor", required_argument, 0, 'B'},
 		{"verbose", optional_argument, 0, 'v'},
+		{"verbose-search-colors", optional_argument, 0, OPT_VERBOSE_SEARCH_COLORS},
 		{"progress", no_argument, 0, OPT_PROGRESS_INDICATOR},
 		{NULL, 0, 0, 0}
 	};
@@ -627,6 +630,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 						generator.verboseCoordinates = 1;
 					}
 					break;
+				case OPT_VERBOSE_SEARCH_COLORS:
+					if (optarg && isdigit(optarg[0]) && optarg[1] == '\0') {
+						generator.verboseReadColors = optarg[0] - '0';
+					}
+					else {
+						generator.verboseReadColors++;
+					}
+					break;
 				case 'e':
 					generator.setDrawAlpha(true);
 					break;