diff --git a/mpds_client/retrieve_MPDS.py b/mpds_client/retrieve_MPDS.py
index b5ab746..a81fc1d 100755
--- a/mpds_client/retrieve_MPDS.py
+++ b/mpds_client/retrieve_MPDS.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def __init__(self, api_key=None, endpoint=None, dtype=None, verbose=None, debug=
 
         self.endpoint = endpoint or self.endpoint
         self.dtype = dtype or MPDSDataTypes.PEER_REVIEWED
-        self.verbose = verbose or self.verbose
+        self.verbose = verbose if verbose is not None else self.verbose
         self.debug = debug or self.debug