diff --git a/README b/README
index 950a078..cb0e2d7 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -18,6 +18,14 @@ preferably via a github pull request.
 Usage
 -----
 
+You _must_ run "make" in the top level directory first.  This builds the
+library and all examples.  If you're simply hacking on a single example after
+that, you can type "make clean; make" in any of the individual project
+directories later.
+
+For more verbose output, to see compiler command lines, use "make V=1"
+For insanity levels of verboseness, use "make V=99"
+
 The makefiles are generally useable for your own projects with
 only minimal changes for the libopencm3 install path (See Reuse)
 
diff --git a/examples/Makefile.rules b/examples/Makefile.rules
index 293ed84..9cd41f5 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile.rules
+++ b/examples/Makefile.rules
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ LDFLAGS		+= -L$(LIB_DIR)
 LDFLAGS		+= -T$(LDSCRIPT)
 LDFLAGS		+= -Wl,-Map=$(*).map
 LDFLAGS		+= -Wl,--gc-sections
-ifeq ($(V),1)
+ifeq ($(V),99)
 LDFLAGS		+= -Wl,--print-gc-sections
 endif