diff --git a/cmd/image.go b/cmd/image.go
index 25a47f8..8548513 100644
--- a/cmd/image.go
+++ b/cmd/image.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/authn"
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/vbauerster/mpb/v7"
 	"github.com/vbauerster/mpb/v7/decor"
+	"golang.org/x/term"
 
 	"github.com/LINBIT/virter/internal/virter"
 )
@@ -189,6 +191,14 @@ func imageCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	return imageCmd
 }
 
+func DefaultContainerOpt() mpb.ContainerOption {
+	if term.IsTerminal(int(os.Stderr.Fd())) {
+		return mpb.WithOutput(os.Stderr)
+	}
+
+	return mpb.WithOutput(nil)
+}
+
 type mpbProgress struct {
 	*mpb.Progress
 }
diff --git a/cmd/image_build.go b/cmd/image_build.go
index 9e8d5ca..e44cf12 100644
--- a/cmd/image_build.go
+++ b/cmd/image_build.go
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func imageBuildCommand() *cobra.Command {
 
 			shutdownTimeout := viper.GetDuration("time.shutdown_timeout")
 
-			p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx)
+			p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx, DefaultContainerOpt())
 
 			baseImage, err := GetLocalImage(ctx, baseImageName, baseImageName, v, pullPolicy, DefaultProgressFormat(p))
 			if err != nil {
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func imageBuildCommand() *cobra.Command {
 				} else if unchanged {
 					log.Info("Image already up-to-date, skipping provision, pulling instead")
 
-					p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx)
+					p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx, DefaultContainerOpt())
 
 					_, err := GetLocalImage(ctx, newImageName, args[1], v, PullPolicyAlways, DefaultProgressFormat(p))
 					if err != nil {
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func imageBuildCommand() *cobra.Command {
 				ResetMachineID:  resetMachineID,
 			}
 
-			p = mpb.NewWithContext(ctx)
+			p = mpb.NewWithContext(ctx, DefaultContainerOpt())
 
 			err = v.ImageBuild(ctx, tools, vmConfig, sshPingConfig, buildConfig, virter.WithProgress(DefaultProgressFormat(p)))
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/image_load.go b/cmd/image_load.go
index 78bc20b..d75a3b6 100644
--- a/cmd/image_load.go
+++ b/cmd/image_load.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ read from stdin`,
 				log.WithError(err).Fatal("error creating import layer")
 			}
 
-			p := mpb.New()
+			p := mpb.New(DefaultContainerOpt())
 
 			var in io.Reader
 			if len(args) == 1 {
diff --git a/cmd/image_pull.go b/cmd/image_pull.go
index f2be591..1b931d2 100644
--- a/cmd/image_pull.go
+++ b/cmd/image_pull.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ will be used.`,
 			}
 			defer v.ForceDisconnect()
 
-			p := mpb.New()
+			p := mpb.New(DefaultContainerOpt())
 
 			ctx, cancel := onInterruptWrap(context.Background())
 			defer cancel()
diff --git a/cmd/image_push.go b/cmd/image_push.go
index 845707a..8c448ce 100644
--- a/cmd/image_push.go
+++ b/cmd/image_push.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func imagePushCommand() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 			defer v.ForceDisconnect()
 
-			p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx)
+			p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx, DefaultContainerOpt())
 
 			img, err := GetLocalImage(ctx, source, source, v, PullPolicyNever, DefaultProgressFormat(p))
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/image_save.go b/cmd/image_save.go
index 246961c..55bc479 100644
--- a/cmd/image_save.go
+++ b/cmd/image_save.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ squashed into a single file.`,
 				out = f
 			}
 
-			p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx, mpb.WithOutput(os.Stderr))
+			p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx, DefaultContainerOpt())
 
 			imgRef, err := GetLocalImage(ctx, image, image, v, PullPolicyNever, DefaultProgressFormat(p))
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/vm_commit.go b/cmd/vm_commit.go
index 4fc0e8c..685d205 100644
--- a/cmd/vm_commit.go
+++ b/cmd/vm_commit.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ the virtual machine name if no other value is given.`,
 			ctx, cancel := onInterruptWrap(context.Background())
 			defer cancel()
 
-			p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx)
+			p := mpb.NewWithContext(ctx, DefaultContainerOpt())
 
 			err = v.VMCommit(ctx, actualtime.ActualTime{}, vmName, imageName, shutdown, shutdownTimeout, viper.GetBool("libvirt.static_dhcp"), virter.WithProgress(DefaultProgressFormat(p)))
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/vm_run.go b/cmd/vm_run.go
index 1c3f4fa..93ff6a4 100644
--- a/cmd/vm_run.go
+++ b/cmd/vm_run.go
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func vmRunCommand() *cobra.Command {
 				log.Fatal(err)
 			}
 
-			p := mpb.New()
+			p := mpb.New(DefaultContainerOpt())
 			image, err := GetLocalImage(ctx, args[0], args[0], v, pullPolicy, DefaultProgressFormat(p))
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Fatalf("Error while getting image: %v", err)