diff --git a/src/ocrmypdf/__main__.py b/src/ocrmypdf/__main__.py
index 78b3cd13..b5997d79 100755
--- a/src/ocrmypdf/__main__.py
+++ b/src/ocrmypdf/__main__.py
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ def main(args=None):
         os.nice(5)
 
     verbosity = options.verbose
+    if not os.isatty(sys.stderr.fileno()):
+        options.progress_bar = False
     if options.quiet:
         verbosity = -1
         options.progress_bar = False