diff --git a/lib/rake/testtask.rb b/lib/rake/testtask.rb
index 4c6f71917..cf9855147 100644
--- a/lib/rake/testtask.rb
+++ b/lib/rake/testtask.rb
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ def define
       desc @description
       task @name => Array(deps) do
         FileUtilsExt.verbose(@verbose) do
+          puts "Use TESTOPTS=\"--verbose\" to pass --verbose" \
+            ", etc. to runners." if ARGV.include? '--verbose'
           args =
             "#{ruby_opts_string} #{run_code} " +
             "#{file_list_string} #{option_list}"