diff --git a/matter/matter/builder.py b/matter/matter/builder.py
index b51184348..5eec33e7b 100644
--- a/matter/matter/builder.py
+++ b/matter/matter/builder.py
@@ -62,10 +62,6 @@ class PackageBuilder(object):
     OVERLAYS_SYNC_CMD = shlex.split(os.getenv("MATTER_OVERLAYS_SYNC_CMD",
         DEFAULT_OVERLAYS_SYNC_CMD))
 
-    DEFAULT_PORTAGE_BUILD_ARGS = "--verbose --nospinner"
-    PORTAGE_BUILD_ARGS = os.getenv("MATTER_PORTAGE_BUILD_ARGS",
-        DEFAULT_PORTAGE_BUILD_ARGS).split()
-
     PORTAGE_BUILTIN_ARGS = ["--accept-properties=-interactive"]
 
     def __init__(self, emerge_config, packages, params,
@@ -626,8 +622,8 @@ class PackageBuilder(object):
         # non interactive properties, this is not really required
         # accept-properties just sets os.environ...
         build_args = []
-        build_args += PackageBuilder.PORTAGE_BUILD_ARGS
         build_args += PackageBuilder.PORTAGE_BUILTIN_ARGS
+        build_args += self._params['build-args'],
         build_args += ["=" + best_v for _x, best_v in packages]
         myaction, myopts, myfiles = parse_opts(build_args)
 
@@ -754,7 +750,7 @@ class PackageBuilder(object):
         return retval
 
     @classmethod
-    def post_build(cls, emerge_config):
+    def post_build(cls, spec, emerge_config):
         """
         Execute Portage post-build tasks.
         """
@@ -763,7 +759,7 @@ class PackageBuilder(object):
             print_info("executing post-build operations, please wait...")
             builtin_args = PackageBuilder.PORTAGE_BUILTIN_ARGS
             _action, opts, _files = parse_opts(
-                PackageBuilder.PORTAGE_BUILD_ARGS + builtin_args)
+                builtin_args + spec['build-args'])
             unmerge(emerge_trees[emerge_settings["ROOT"]]["root_config"],
                 opts, "clean", [], mtimedb["ldpath"], autoclean=1)
 
diff --git a/matter/matter/main.py b/matter/matter/main.py
index c30ef2583..2887115a4 100644
--- a/matter/matter/main.py
+++ b/matter/matter/main.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def matter_main(binary_pms, nsargs, cwd, specs):
 
         # call post-build cleanup operations,
         # run it unconditionally
-        PackageBuilder.post_build(emerge_config)
+        PackageBuilder.post_build(spec, emerge_config)
 
         completed.extend([x for x in local_completed \
             if x not in completed])
@@ -245,8 +245,6 @@ Environment variables for Package Builder module:
                               default: %s
 %s   =  alternative command used to sync Portage overlays
                               default: %s
-%s  = custom emerge arguments
-                              default: %s
 
 Environment variables passed to --post executables:
 %s        = exit status from previous execution phases, useful for detecting
@@ -266,8 +264,6 @@ Available Binary PMSs:
         darkgreen(PackageBuilder.DEFAULT_PORTAGE_SYNC_CMD),
         purple("MATTER_OVERLAYS_SYNC_CMD"),
         darkgreen(PackageBuilder.DEFAULT_OVERLAYS_SYNC_CMD),
-        purple("MATTER_PORTAGE_BUILD_ARGS"),
-        darkgreen(PackageBuilder.DEFAULT_PORTAGE_BUILD_ARGS),
         purple("MATTER_EXIT_STATUS"),
         darkgreen(MatterResourceLock.LOCK_FILE_PATH),
         matter_spec_params,
diff --git a/matter/matter/spec.py b/matter/matter/spec.py
index 6da733e45..45bbb525c 100644
--- a/matter/matter/spec.py
+++ b/matter/matter/spec.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 """
 import os
+import shlex
 
 from matter.utils import convert_to_unicode, get_stringtype
 
@@ -60,6 +61,9 @@ class GenericSpecFunctions(object):
     def ve_integer_converter(self, x):
         return int(x)
 
+    def ve_string_shlex_splitter(self, x):
+        return list(shlex.split(x))
+
     def valid_ascii(self, x):
         try:
             x = str(x)
@@ -126,6 +130,13 @@ class MatterSpec(GenericSpecFunctions):
         @rtype: dict
         """
         return {
+            'build-args': {
+                'cb': self.ne_string,
+                've': self.ve_string_shlex_splitter,
+                'default': ["--verbose", "--nospinner"],
+                'desc': "Portage build arguments (default is --verbose\n "
+                "--nospinner)",
+            },
             'dependencies': {
                 'cb': self.valid_yes_no,
                 've': self.ve_string_stripper,
diff --git a/matter/matter_examples/entropy.particle b/matter/matter_examples/entropy.particle
index 61a2f8872..0c5032a39 100644
--- a/matter/matter_examples/entropy.particle
+++ b/matter/matter_examples/entropy.particle
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ repository: community0
 # Default is: inherit
 stable: inherit
 
+# Provide custom build arguments to Portage.
+# Default is: --verbose --nospinner
+build-args: --verbose --nospinner
+
 # Allow Source Package Manager (Portage) repository change?
 # Valid values are either "yes" or "no"
 # Default is: no
diff --git a/matter/matter_examples/fail.particle b/matter/matter_examples/fail.particle
index 0b0f8c970..28f7fd461 100644
--- a/matter/matter_examples/fail.particle
+++ b/matter/matter_examples/fail.particle
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ stable: inherit
 # Mandatory, cannot be empty
 repository: community0
 
+# Provide custom build arguments to Portage.
+# Default is: --verbose --nospinner
+build-args: --verbose --nospinner
+
 # Allow Source Package Manager (Portage) repository change?
 # Valid values are either "yes" or "no"
 # Default is: no
diff --git a/matter/matter_examples/misc.particle b/matter/matter_examples/misc.particle
index f3ae01f8b..a855e960f 100644
--- a/matter/matter_examples/misc.particle
+++ b/matter/matter_examples/misc.particle
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ stable: inherit
 # Mandatory, cannot be empty
 repository: community0
 
+# Provide custom build arguments to Portage.
+# Default is: --verbose --nospinner
+build-args: --verbose --nospinner
+
 # Allow Source Package Manager (Portage) repository change?
 # Valid values are either "yes" or "no"
 # Default is: no
diff --git a/matter/matter_examples/zlib.particle b/matter/matter_examples/zlib.particle
index fa88538fc..6f179db7d 100644
--- a/matter/matter_examples/zlib.particle
+++ b/matter/matter_examples/zlib.particle
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ stable: inherit
 # Mandatory, cannot be empty
 repository: community0
 
+# Provide custom build arguments to Portage.
+# Default is: --verbose --nospinner
+build-args: --verbose --nospinner
+
 # Allow Source Package Manager (Portage) repository change?
 # Valid values are either "yes" or "no"
 # Default is: no