diff --git a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/main.go b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/main.go
index 1d270989fa49..20b47966081f 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/main.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/main.go
@@ -353,6 +353,8 @@ runner itself.
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "unable to lookup current user: %s\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+	// Disable spinners and other fancy status messages since all IO is non-interactive.
+	config.Quiet = true
 
 	if err := roachprod.InitDirs(); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s\n", err)