diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/lib/groups/StatsGroup.js b/packages/webpack-cli/lib/groups/StatsGroup.js
index b8654e8c5c5..024d57c6383 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/lib/groups/StatsGroup.js
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/lib/groups/StatsGroup.js
@@ -15,14 +15,10 @@ class StatsGroup extends GroupHelper {
     resolveOptions() {
         if (this.args.verbose && this.args.stats) {
             logger.warn('Conflict between "verbose" and "stats" options. Using verbose.');
-            this.opts.option.stats = {
-                verbose: true,
-            };
+            this.opts.options.stats = 'verbose';
         } else {
             if (this.args.verbose) {
-                this.opts.option.stats = {
-                    verbose: true,
-                };
+                this.opts.options.stats = 'verbose';
             } else if (!StatsGroup.validOptions().includes(this.args.stats)) {
                 logger.warn(`'${this.args.stats}' is invalid value for stats. Using 'normal' option for stats`);
                 this.opts.options.stats = 'normal';
diff --git a/packages/webpack-cli/lib/utils/cli-flags.js b/packages/webpack-cli/lib/utils/cli-flags.js
index 56dbfa8bbd4..d31d5ecb7a0 100644
--- a/packages/webpack-cli/lib/utils/cli-flags.js
+++ b/packages/webpack-cli/lib/utils/cli-flags.js
@@ -237,7 +237,6 @@ module.exports = {
             name: 'stats',
             usage: '--stats verbose',
             type: String,
-            defaultValue: 'normal',
             group: DISPLAY_GROUP,
             description: 'It instructs webpack on how to treat the stats',
             link: 'https://webpack.js.org/configuration/stats/#stats',
diff --git a/test/stats/stats.test.js b/test/stats/stats.test.js
index 656a6633825..6b9c060accd 100644
--- a/test/stats/stats.test.js
+++ b/test/stats/stats.test.js
@@ -45,6 +45,13 @@ describe('stats flag', () => {
         expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
     });
 
+    it('should warn when --verbose & --stats are passed together', () => {
+        const { stderr, stdout } = run(__dirname, ['--verbose', '--stats', 'normal']);
+        expect(stderr).toBeTruthy();
+        expect(stderr).toContain('Conflict between "verbose" and "stats" options');
+        expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+
     it('should warn when an unknown flag stats value is passed', () => {
         const { stderr, stdout } = run(__dirname, ['--stats', 'foo']);
         expect(stderr).toBeTruthy();
diff --git a/test/verbose/index.js b/test/verbose/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c80ec0847f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/verbose/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+console.log('test');
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/verbose/verbose-flag.test.js b/test/verbose/verbose-flag.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f00c0eda958
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/verbose/verbose-flag.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+'use strict';
+// eslint-disable-next-line node/no-unpublished-require
+const { run } = require('../utils/test-utils');
+
+describe('verbose flag', () => {
+    it('should accept --verbose', () => {
+        const { stderr, stdout } = run(__dirname, ['--verbose']);
+        expect(stderr).toBeFalsy();
+        expect(stdout).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+});