diff --git a/quicklisp/client.lisp b/quicklisp/client.lisp
index cef8df8..16f28ef 100644
--- a/quicklisp/client.lisp
+++ b/quicklisp/client.lisp
@@ -17,21 +17,27 @@
     :initarg :system
     :reader not-quickloadable-system)))
 
-(defgeneric quickload (systems &key verbose prompt explain &allow-other-keys)
+(defun maybe-silence (silent stream)
+  (or (and silent (make-broadcast-stream)) stream))
+
+(defgeneric quickload (systems &key verbose silent prompt explain &allow-other-keys)
   (:documentation
    "Load SYSTEMS the quicklisp way. SYSTEMS is a designator for a list
    of things to be loaded.")
   (:method (systems &key
             (prompt *quickload-prompt*)
+            (silent nil)
             (verbose *quickload-verbose*) &allow-other-keys)
-    (unless (consp systems)
-      (setf systems (list systems)))
-    (dolist (thing systems systems)
-      (flet ((ql ()
-               (autoload-system-and-dependencies thing :prompt prompt)))
-        (if verbose
-            (ql)
-            (call-with-quiet-compilation #'ql))))))
+    (let ((*standard-output* (maybe-silence silent *standard-output*))
+          (*trace-output*    (maybe-silence silent *trace-output*)))
+      (unless (consp systems)
+        (setf systems (list systems)))
+      (dolist (thing systems systems)
+        (flet ((ql ()
+                 (autoload-system-and-dependencies thing :prompt prompt)))
+          (if verbose
+              (ql)
+              (call-with-quiet-compilation #'ql)))))))
 
 (defmethod quickload :around (systems &key verbose prompt explain
                                       &allow-other-keys)