diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/README.md b/packages/coding-agent/README.md
index 8e5433d2..b9e57b0d 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/README.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/README.md
@@ -827,6 +827,7 @@ Global `~/.pi/agent/settings.json` stores persistent preferences:
 | `shellPath` | Custom bash path (Windows) | auto-detected |
 | `shellCommandPrefix` | Command prefix for bash (e.g., `shopt -s expand_aliases` for alias support) | - |
 | `hideThinkingBlock` | Hide thinking blocks in output (Ctrl+T to toggle) | `false` |
+| `quietStartup` | Hide startup info (keybindings, loaded skills/extensions) | `false` |
 | `collapseChangelog` | Show condensed changelog after update | `false` |
 | `compaction.enabled` | Enable auto-compaction | `true` |
 | `compaction.reserveTokens` | Tokens to reserve before compaction triggers | `16384` |
@@ -1278,6 +1279,7 @@ pi [options] [@files...] [messages...]
 | `--no-prompt-templates` | Disable prompt template discovery and loading |
 | `--no-themes` | Disable theme discovery and loading |
 | `--export <file> [output]` | Export session to HTML |
+| `--verbose` | Force verbose startup (overrides `quietStartup` setting) |
 | `--help`, `-h` | Show help |
 | `--version`, `-v` | Show version |
 
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/cli/args.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/cli/args.ts
index ddab572c..57c28de5 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/cli/args.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/cli/args.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export interface Args {
 	themes?: string[];
 	noThemes?: boolean;
 	listModels?: string | true;
+	verbose?: boolean;
 	messages: string[];
 	fileArgs: string[];
 	/** Unknown flags (potentially extension flags) - map of flag name to value */
@@ -148,6 +149,8 @@ export function parseArgs(args: string[], extensionFlags?: Map<string, { type: "
 			} else {
 				result.listModels = true;
 			}
+		} else if (arg === "--verbose") {
+			result.verbose = true;
 		} else if (arg.startsWith("@")) {
 			result.fileArgs.push(arg.slice(1)); // Remove @ prefix
 		} else if (arg.startsWith("--") && extensionFlags) {
@@ -211,6 +214,7 @@ ${chalk.bold("Options:")}
   --no-themes                    Disable theme discovery and loading
   --export <file>                Export session file to HTML and exit
   --list-models [search]         List available models (with optional fuzzy search)
+  --verbose                      Force verbose startup (overrides quietStartup setting)
   --help, -h                     Show this help
   --version, -v                  Show version number
 
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts
index 61244988..74964c2b 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/main.ts
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ export async function main(args: string[]) {
 	if (mode === "rpc") {
 		await runRpcMode(session);
 	} else if (isInteractive) {
-		if (scopedModels.length > 0 && !settingsManager.getQuietStartup()) {
+		if (scopedModels.length > 0 && (parsed.verbose || !settingsManager.getQuietStartup())) {
 			const modelList = scopedModels
 				.map((sm) => {
 					const thinkingStr = sm.thinkingLevel ? `:${sm.thinkingLevel}` : "";
@@ -599,6 +599,7 @@ export async function main(args: string[]) {
 			initialMessage,
 			initialImages,
 			initialMessages: parsed.messages,
+			verbose: parsed.verbose,
 		});
 		await mode.run();
 	} else {
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
index d325e4fb..0afd278b 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/modes/interactive/interactive-mode.ts
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ export interface InteractiveModeOptions {
 	initialImages?: ImageContent[];
 	/** Additional messages to send after the initial message */
 	initialMessages?: string[];
+	/** Force verbose startup (overrides quietStartup setting) */
+	verbose?: boolean;
 }
 
 export class InteractiveMode {
@@ -373,7 +375,7 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 		this.setupAutocomplete(this.fdPath);
 
 		// Add header with keybindings from config (unless silenced)
-		if (!this.settingsManager.getQuietStartup()) {
+		if (this.options.verbose || !this.settingsManager.getQuietStartup()) {
 			const logo = theme.bold(theme.fg("accent", APP_NAME)) + theme.fg("dim", ` v${this.version}`);
 
 			// Build startup instructions using keybinding hint helpers
@@ -642,7 +644,7 @@ export class InteractiveMode {
 	}
 
 	private showLoadedResources(options?: { extensionPaths?: string[]; force?: boolean }): void {
-		const shouldShow = options?.force || !this.settingsManager.getQuietStartup();
+		const shouldShow = options?.force || this.options.verbose || !this.settingsManager.getQuietStartup();
 		if (!shouldShow) {
 			return;
 		}
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/test/args.test.ts b/packages/coding-agent/test/args.test.ts
index 2438de2d..21b9af30 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/test/args.test.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/test/args.test.ts
@@ -220,6 +220,13 @@ describe("parseArgs", () => {
 		});
 	});
 
+	describe("--verbose flag", () => {
+		test("parses --verbose flag", () => {
+			const result = parseArgs(["--verbose"]);
+			expect(result.verbose).toBe(true);
+		});
+	});
+
 	describe("--no-tools flag", () => {
 		test("parses --no-tools flag", () => {
 			const result = parseArgs(["--no-tools"]);