diff --git a/lib/pry.rb b/lib/pry.rb
index e7eb3e1e..68a65034 100644
--- a/lib/pry.rb
+++ b/lib/pry.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ require 'pry/hooks'
 class Pry
   # The default hooks - display messages when beginning and ending Pry sessions.
   DEFAULT_HOOKS = Pry::Hooks.new.add_hook(:before_session, :default) do |out, target, _pry_|
+    next if _pry_.quiet?
     # ensure we're actually in a method
     file = target.eval('__FILE__')
 
diff --git a/lib/pry/pry_class.rb b/lib/pry/pry_class.rb
index 8728ac8b..872b2cb8 100644
--- a/lib/pry/pry_class.rb
+++ b/lib/pry/pry_class.rb
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ class Pry
     # @return [Fixnum] The number of active Pry sessions.
     attr_accessor :active_sessions
 
+    # @return [Boolean] Whether Pry sessions are quiet by default.
+    attr_accessor :quiet
+
     # plugin forwardables
     def_delegators :@plugin_manager, :plugins, :load_plugins, :locate_plugins
 
diff --git a/lib/pry/pry_instance.rb b/lib/pry/pry_instance.rb
index 81a3901b..b91793c3 100644
--- a/lib/pry/pry_instance.rb
+++ b/lib/pry/pry_instance.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ class Pry
   attr_accessor :print
   attr_accessor :exception_handler
   attr_accessor :input_stack
+  attr_accessor :quiet
+  alias :quiet? :quiet
 
   attr_accessor :custom_completions
 
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@ class Pry
   # @option options [Hash] :hooks The defined hook Procs
   # @option options [Array<Proc>] :prompt The array of Procs to use for the prompts.
   # @option options [Proc] :print The Proc to use for the 'print'
+  # @option options [Boolean] :quiet If true, omit the whereami banner when starting.
   #   component of the REPL. (see print.rb)
   def initialize(options={})
     refresh(options)
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ class Pry
   def refresh(options={})
     defaults   = {}
     attributes = [
-                   :input, :output, :commands, :print,
+                   :input, :output, :commands, :print, :quiet,
                    :exception_handler, :hooks, :custom_completions,
                    :prompt, :memory_size, :input_stack, :extra_sticky_locals
                  ]
diff --git a/test/test_pry_defaults.rb b/test/test_pry_defaults.rb
index 633f7e02..43e5c534 100644
--- a/test/test_pry_defaults.rb
+++ b/test/test_pry_defaults.rb
@@ -377,4 +377,25 @@ describe "test Pry defaults" do
     Pry.reset_defaults
     Pry.color = false
   end
+
+  describe 'quiet' do
+    it 'should show whereami by default' do
+      output = StringIO.new
+      Pry.start(binding, :input => InputTester.new("1", "exit-all"),
+              :output => output,
+              :hooks => Pry::DEFAULT_HOOKS)
+
+      output.string.should =~ /[w]hereami by default/
+    end
+
+    it 'should hide whereami if quiet is set' do
+      output = StringIO.new
+      Pry.new(:input => InputTester.new("exit-all"),
+              :output => output,
+              :quiet => true,
+              :hooks => Pry::DEFAULT_HOOKS)
+
+      output.string.should == ""
+    end
+  end
 end