diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1d6e938..0e9216c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -251,8 +251,9 @@ shell command and the second is an optional human-readable description.
 
 Shell commands support an extended syntax as well, which provides more
 fine-grained control. A command can be specified as a dictionary that contains
-the command to be run, a description, and whether `stdin`, `stdout`, and
-`stderr` are enabled. In this syntax, all keys are optional except for the
+the command to be run, a description, whether to suppress outputting the
+command in the display via `quiet`,  and whether `stdin`, `stdout`,
+and `stderr` are enabled. In this syntax, all keys are optional except for the
 command itself.
 
 #### Example
@@ -266,6 +267,7 @@ command itself.
     stdin: true
     stdout: true
     description: Reading and printing variable
+    quiet: true
   -
     command: read fail
     stderr: true
diff --git a/plugins/shell.py b/plugins/shell.py
index b6f5184..06a9a89 100644
--- a/plugins/shell.py
+++ b/plugins/shell.py
@@ -22,12 +22,15 @@ class Shell(dotbot.Plugin):
         with open(os.devnull, 'w') as devnull:
             for item in data:
                 stdin = stdout = stderr = devnull
+                quiet = False
                 if defaults.get('stdin', False) == True:
                     stdin = None
                 if defaults.get('stdout', False) == True:
                     stdout = None
                 if defaults.get('stderr', False) == True:
                     stderr = None
+                if defaults.get('quiet', False) == True:
+                    quiet = True
                 if isinstance(item, dict):
                     cmd = item['command']
                     msg = item.get('description', None)
@@ -37,6 +40,8 @@ class Shell(dotbot.Plugin):
                         stdout = None if item['stdout'] == True else devnull
                     if 'stderr' in item:
                         stderr = None if item['stderr'] == True else devnull
+                    if 'quiet' in item:
+                        quiet = True if item['quiet'] == True else False
                 elif isinstance(item, list):
                     cmd = item[0]
                     msg = item[1] if len(item) > 1 else None
@@ -45,6 +50,8 @@ class Shell(dotbot.Plugin):
                     msg = None
                 if msg is None:
                     self._log.lowinfo(cmd)
+                elif quiet:
+                    self._log.lowinfo('%s' % msg)
                 else:
                     self._log.lowinfo('%s [%s]' % (msg, cmd))
                 executable = os.environ.get('SHELL')