diff --git a/hlint.cabal b/hlint.cabal
--- a/hlint.cabal
+++ b/hlint.cabal
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 cabal-version:      >= 1.6
 build-type:         Simple
 name:               hlint
-version:            1.7
+version:            1.7.1
 -- license is GPL v2 only
 license:            GPL
 license-file:       LICENSE
diff --git a/src/CmdLine.hs b/src/CmdLine.hs
--- a/src/CmdLine.hs
+++ b/src/CmdLine.hs
@@ -30,13 +30,17 @@
     ,cmdEncoding :: String           -- ^ the text encoding
     ,cmdFindHints :: [FilePath]      -- ^ source files to look for hints in
     ,cmdLanguage :: [Extension]      -- ^ the extensions (may be prefixed by "No")
+    ,cmdQuiet :: Bool                -- ^ supress all console output
     }
 
 
-data Opts = Help | Ver | Test
+data Opts = Help
+          | Ver
+          | Test
           | Hints FilePath
           | Report FilePath
-          | Skip String | ShowAll
+          | Skip String
+          | ShowAll
           | Color
           | Define String
           | Include String
@@ -45,6 +49,7 @@
           | Encoding String
           | FindHints FilePath
           | Language String
+          | Quiet
             deriving Eq
 
 
@@ -62,6 +67,7 @@
        ,Option "f" ["find"] (ReqArg FindHints "file") "Find hints in a Haskell file"
        ,Option "t" ["test"] (NoArg Test) "Run in test mode"
        ,Option "d" ["datadir"] (ReqArg DataDir "dir") "Override the data directory"
+       ,Option "q" ["quiet"] (NoArg Quiet) "Supress most console output"
        ,Option ""  ["cpp-define"] (ReqArg Define "name[=value]") "CPP #define"
        ,Option ""  ["cpp-include"] (ReqArg Include "dir") "CPP include path"
        ]
@@ -116,6 +122,7 @@
         ,cmdEncoding = encoding
         ,cmdFindHints = findHints
         ,cmdLanguage = languages
+        ,cmdQuiet = Quiet `elem` opt
         }
 
 
diff --git a/src/HLint.hs b/src/HLint.hs
--- a/src/HLint.hs
+++ b/src/HLint.hs
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@
 
 -- | This function takes a list of command line arguments, and returns the given suggestions.
 --   To see a list of arguments type @hlint --help@ at the console.
---   This function usually writes to the stdout/stderr streams.
+--   This function writes to the stdout/stderr streams, unless @--quiet@ is specified.
 --
 --   As an example:
 --
--- > do hints <- hlint ["src", "--ignore=Use map"]
+-- > do hints <- hlint ["src", "--ignore=Use map","--quiet"]
 -- >    when (length hints > 3) $ error "Too many hints!"
 hlint :: [String] -> IO [Suggestion]
 hlint args = do
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 
 runHints :: Cmd -> ParseFlags -> IO [Suggestion]
 runHints Cmd{..} flags = do
+    let outStrLn x = unless cmdQuiet $ putStrLn x
     settings1 <- readSettings cmdDataDir cmdHintFiles
     settings2 <- concatMapM (fmap snd . findSettings flags) cmdFindHints
     settings3 <- return [Classify Ignore x ("","") | x <- cmdIgnore]
@@ -61,15 +62,15 @@
     ideas <- fmap concat $ parallel [listM' =<< applyHint flags settings x | x <- cmdFiles]
     let (showideas,hideideas) = partition (\i -> cmdShowAll || rank i /= Ignore) ideas
     showItem <- if cmdColor then showANSI else return show
-    mapM_ (putStrLn . showItem) showideas
+    mapM_ (outStrLn . showItem) showideas
 
     if null showideas then
-        when (cmdReports /= []) $ putStrLn "Skipping writing reports"
+        when (cmdReports /= []) $ outStrLn "Skipping writing reports"
      else
         forM_ cmdReports $ \x -> do
-            putStrLn $ "Writing report to " ++ x ++ " ..."
+            outStrLn $ "Writing report to " ++ x ++ " ..."
             writeReport cmdDataDir x showideas
-    putStrLn $
+    outStrLn $
         (let i = length showideas in if i == 0 then "No suggestions" else show i ++ " suggestion" ++ ['s'|i/=1]) ++
         (let i = length hideideas in if i == 0 then "" else " (" ++ show i ++ " ignored)")
     return $ map Suggestion showideas