diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b6a1527..80f7723 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ Executes a lambda given the `options` object, which is a dictionary where the ke
 | `environment`|optional, extra environment variables for the lambda|
 | `envfile`|optional, load an environment file before booting|
 | `envdestroy`|optional, destroy added environment on closing, default to false|
-| `verboseLevel`|optional, default 3. Level 2 dismiss handler() text, level 1 dismiss lambda-local text and level 0 dismiss also the result.|
+| `verboseLevel`|optional, default 3. Level 2 dismiss handler() text, level 1 dismiss lambda-local text and level 0 dismiss also the result. Level -1 only displays handler() text.|
 | `callback`|optional, lambda third parameter [callback][1]. When left out a Promise is returned|
 | `onInvocationEnd`|optional. called once the invocation ended. useful when awslambda.streamifyResponse is used to distinguish between end of response stream and end of invocation. |
 | `clientContext`|optional, used to populated clientContext property of lambda second parameter (context)
diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index e3c6b87..68f80bc 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ import utils = require('./lib/utils');
             'returning. This is false by default because our implementation isn\'t perfect and only "emulates" it.')
         .option('--envdestroy',
             '(optional) Destroy added environment on closing. Defaults to false')
-        .option('-v, --verboselevel <3/2/1/0>',
+        .option('-v, --verboselevel <3/2/1/0/-1>',
             '(optional) Default 3. Level 2 dismiss handler() text, level 1 dismiss lambda-local text ' +
-            'and level 0 dismiss also the result.', 3)
+            'and level 0 dismiss also the result. Level -1 only displays handler() text.', 3)
         .option('--envfile <path/to/env/file>',
             '(optional) Load additional environment variables from a file')
         .option('--inspect [[host:]port]',
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ import utils = require('./lib/utils');
         envdestroy = program.envdestroy,
         envfile = program.envfile,
         callbackWaitsForEmptyEventLoop = program.waitEmptyEventLoop,
-        verboseLevel = program.verboselevel;
+        verboseLevel = parseInt(program.verboselevel);
 
     var port;
     if (program.watch) {
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ import utils = require('./lib/utils');
         eventPath = true;
     }
 
+    if (isNaN(verboseLevel)) {
+        console.log("Invalid verboseLevel. Must be number.");
+        process.exit(1);
+    }
+
     if (!lambdaPath || !eventPath) {
         program.help();
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/context.ts b/src/lib/context.ts
index fa684ee..a20c3fb 100644
--- a/src/lib/context.ts
+++ b/src/lib/context.ts
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ Context.prototype._initialize = function(options) {
     if (this.verboseLevel > 1){
         this.logger.log('info', 'START RequestId: ' + this.awsRequestId);
     }
-    if (this.verboseLevel < 3){
+    if (this.verboseLevel < 3 && this.verboseLevel >= 0){
         this.unmute = mute();
     }
     this.clientContext = options.clientContext;
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index 9206766..4501639 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -749,6 +749,13 @@ describe("- Testing cli.js", function () {
             assert.equal(r.status, 0);
             assert.equal(r.output, "");
         });
+        it("should have only console output", function () {
+            var command = get_shell("node ../build/cli.js -l ./functs/test-func-print.js -e ./events/test-event.js -v -1");
+            var r = spawnSync(command[0], command[1]);
+            process_outputs(r);
+            assert.equal(r.status, 0);
+            assert.equal(r.output, "Function running :)\n");
+        });
     });
     if (get_node_major_version() >= 16) {
         describe("* Test --wait-empty-event-loop", function () {