diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 7ce5f63c2..7baaa80ef 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ static void opRealise(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         unknown = PathSet();
     }
 
-    printMissing(willBuild, willSubstitute, unknown, downloadSize, narSize);
+    if (settings.get("print-missing", true))
+        printMissing(willBuild, willSubstitute, unknown, downloadSize, narSize);
 
     if (dryRun) return;