diff --git a/automaint b/automaint
index 98c309c..d082974 100755
--- a/automaint
+++ b/automaint
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ ${me[0]} ${me[1]}
 "$"Batch automatic maintainance tool of the autodist suite.""
 
 "$"Usage"":
-   $me [-s repository -d repository ] [-p repository] [-h]
+   $me [-s repository -d repository ] [-p repository] [-h] [-v]
 
    -s repository      "$"Automatic/Staging builds source repository
    -d repository      "$"Main destination repository
    -p repository      "$"Port repository
    -h                 "$"Show this help and exit
+   -v                 "$"Verbose mode
 "
 
 }
@@ -129,6 +130,8 @@ for ((i=1; i<=$#; i++)); do
       -p) shift
           PORT_REPOSITORY="${!i}"
           ;;
+      -v) VERBOSE=1
+          ;;
       -h|--help)
           usage
           exit 0
@@ -169,6 +172,11 @@ for p in ${pkglist[0]}; do
    spkg_release=$pkg_release
    get_pkg_buildinfo $LOCAL_REPS_BASE_DIR/distromatic/$DEST_REPOSITORY ${ARCHS[0]} $p
 
+   [ "$pkg_name" ] || {
+      echo "$p: looks like a new package; skipping."
+      continue
+   }
+
    if [ "$pkg_version" = "$spkg_version" ]; then
       update_type="release"
    else
@@ -182,12 +190,12 @@ for p in ${pkglist[0]}; do
       done
       if [ "$i" = "${#SVER[*]}" ]; then
          if [[ 64#${SVER[i-1]} -gt 64#89 && 64#${VER[i-1]} -lt 64#80 ]]; then
-            echo "$p: dubious beta upgrade from ${VER[i-1]} to ${SVER[i-1]}"
+            [ "$VERBOSE" ] && echo "$p: dubious beta upgrade from ${VER[i-1]} to ${SVER[i-1]}; skipping."
             continue
          fi
          update_type="minor"
       else
-         #echo "$p: dubios not-minor version update $i/${#SVER[*]}: ${SVER[i-1]} != ${VER[i-1]}"
+         [ "$VERBOSE" ] && echo "$p: dubious not-minor version update $i/${#SVER[*]}: ${SVER[i-1]} != ${VER[i-1]}; skipping."
          continue
       fi
    fi