diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
index 08a5ff46d..96e4f01eb 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func (cmd CmdBackup) Usage() string {
 }
 
 func newScanProgress() *restic.Progress {
-	if !terminal.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
+	if disableProgress() {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func newScanProgress() *restic.Progress {
 }
 
 func newArchiveProgress(todo restic.Stat) *restic.Progress {
-	if !terminal.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
+	if disableProgress() {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ func (cmd CmdBackup) Execute(args []string) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid id %q: %v", cmd.Parent, err)
 		}
 
-		fmt.Printf("found parent snapshot %v\n", parentSnapshotID)
+		verbosePrintf("found parent snapshot %v\n", parentSnapshotID.Str())
 	}
 
 	// Find last snapshot to set it as parent, if not already set
@@ -226,11 +226,11 @@ func (cmd CmdBackup) Execute(args []string) error {
 		}
 
 		if parentSnapshotID != nil {
-			fmt.Printf("using parent snapshot %v\n", parentSnapshotID)
+			verbosePrintf("using parent snapshot %v\n", parentSnapshotID)
 		}
 	}
 
-	fmt.Printf("scan %v\n", target)
+	verbosePrintf("scan %v\n", target)
 
 	stat, err := restic.Scan(target, newScanProgress())
 
@@ -252,12 +252,7 @@ func (cmd CmdBackup) Execute(args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	plen, err := s.PrefixLength(backend.Snapshot)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	fmt.Printf("snapshot %s saved\n", id[:plen/2])
+	verbosePrintf("snapshot %s saved\n", id.Str())
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/restic/main.go b/cmd/restic/main.go
index 5dbf9eb13..b34755c84 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/main.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/main.go
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ import (
 var version = "compiled manually"
 
 var opts struct {
-	Repo     string `short:"r" long:"repo"      description:"Repository directory to backup to/restore from"`
-	CacheDir string `          long:"cache-dir" description:"Directory to use as a local cache"`
+	Repo     string `short:"r" long:"repo"                      description:"Repository directory to backup to/restore from"`
+	CacheDir string `          long:"cache-dir"                 description:"Directory to use as a local cache"`
+	Quiet    bool   `short:"q" long:"quiet"     default:"false" description:"Do not output comprehensive progress report"`
 
 	password string
 }
@@ -47,6 +48,34 @@ func readPassword(prompt string) string {
 	return string(pw)
 }
 
+func disableProgress() bool {
+	if opts.Quiet {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if !terminal.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+func silenceRequested() bool {
+	if opts.Quiet {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+func verbosePrintf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+	if silenceRequested() {
+		return
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf(format, args...)
+}
+
 type CmdInit struct{}
 
 func (cmd CmdInit) Execute(args []string) error {
@@ -78,10 +107,11 @@ func (cmd CmdInit) Execute(args []string) error {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	fmt.Printf("created restic backend %v at %s\n", s.Config.ID[:10], opts.Repo)
-
-	fmt.Println("Please note that knowledge of your password is required to access the repository.")
-	fmt.Println("Losing your password means that your data is irrecoverably lost.")
+	verbosePrintf("created restic backend %v at %s\n", s.Config.ID[:10], opts.Repo)
+	verbosePrintf("\n")
+	verbosePrintf("Please note that knowledge of your password is required to access\n")
+	verbosePrintf("the repository. Losing your password means that your data is\n")
+	verbosePrintf("irrecoverably lost.\n")
 
 	return nil
 }