diff --git a/pkg/auth/auth.go b/pkg/auth/auth.go
index a9ad60f43..d2e75c1f7 100644
--- a/pkg/auth/auth.go
+++ b/pkg/auth/auth.go
@@ -134,9 +134,13 @@ func Login(ctx context.Context, systemContext *types.SystemContext, opts *LoginO
 
 	if err = docker.CheckAuth(ctx, systemContext, username, password, server); err == nil {
 		// Write the new credentials to the authfile
-		if err := config.SetAuthentication(systemContext, server, username, password); err != nil {
+		desc, err := config.SetCredentials(systemContext, server, username, password)
+		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		if opts.Verbose {
+			fmt.Fprintln(opts.Stdout, "Used: ", desc)
+		}
 	}
 	if err == nil {
 		fmt.Fprintln(opts.Stdout, "Login Succeeded!")
diff --git a/pkg/auth/cli.go b/pkg/auth/cli.go
index 1d8eed4ac..5a7c1137c 100644
--- a/pkg/auth/cli.go
+++ b/pkg/auth/cli.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ type LoginOptions struct {
 	Username      string
 	StdinPassword bool
 	GetLoginSet   bool
+	Verbose       bool // set to true for verbose output
 	// Options caller can set
 	Stdin                     io.Reader // set to os.Stdin
 	Stdout                    io.Writer // set to os.Stdout
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ func GetLoginFlags(flags *LoginOptions) *pflag.FlagSet {
 	fs.StringVarP(&flags.Username, "username", "u", "", "Username for registry")
 	fs.BoolVar(&flags.StdinPassword, "password-stdin", false, "Take the password from stdin")
 	fs.BoolVar(&flags.GetLoginSet, "get-login", false, "Return the current login user for the registry")
+	fs.BoolVarP(&flags.Verbose, "verbose", "v", false, "Write more detailed information to stdout")
 	return &fs
 }