diff --git a/include/Common/SimpleLog.h b/include/Common/SimpleLog.h
index 97b14b5..7b7572d 100644
--- a/include/Common/SimpleLog.h
+++ b/include/Common/SimpleLog.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class SimpleLog
 
   // Set (or change) the log file name. Previous file used is closed. New file is appended when already existing.
   // Optionnaly, an automatic log rotation can be defined. Older files are renamed, appending .1, .2, .3, etc.
-  // \param logFilePath Path to log file. If NULL, using stdout/stderr.
+  // \param logFilePath Path to log file. If NULL, using stdout/stderr. If /dev/null, messages are completely dropped.
   // \param rotateMaxBytes Maximum file size, after which a new file is created. If zero, no limit.
   // \param rotateMaxFiles Maximum number of files to keep (including the "current" file). If zero, no limit.
   // \param rotateNow If non-zero, the file is immediately rotated (independently of its size), otherwise it is appended.
diff --git a/src/Daemon.cxx b/src/Daemon.cxx
index 39779ce..252e043 100644
--- a/src/Daemon.cxx
+++ b/src/Daemon.cxx
@@ -61,6 +61,17 @@ int createDaemon(int closeFiles)
   return 0;
 }
 
+void print_usage()
+{
+  printf("Daemon startup command line options:\n");
+  printf("  -z [pathToConfigurationFile]   Define the path to the configuration file to be loaded.\n");
+  printf("  -o [key]=[value]               Set an optional parameter, defined as a key/value pair.\n");
+  printf("                                 Possibly overwritten by corresponding content in configuration file [daemon] section\n");
+  printf("                                 Valid keys: isInteractive, idleSleepTime, userName, redirectOutput,\n");
+  printf("                                 logFile, logRotateMaxBytes, logRotateMaxFiles, logRotateNow.\n");
+  printf("  -h                             This help.\n");
+}
+
 Daemon::Daemon(int argc, char* argv[], DaemonConfigParameters* dConfigParams)
 {
   isInitialized = 0;
@@ -72,7 +83,7 @@ Daemon::Daemon(int argc, char* argv[], DaemonConfigParameters* dConfigParams)
   try {
     // parse command line parameters
     int option;
-    while ((option = getopt(argc, argv, "z:o:")) != -1) {
+    while ((option = getopt(argc, argv, "z:o:h")) != -1) {
       switch (option) {
 
         case 'z':
@@ -120,6 +131,10 @@ Daemon::Daemon(int argc, char* argv[], DaemonConfigParameters* dConfigParams)
           }
         } break;
 
+        case 'h': {
+          print_usage();
+        } break;
+
         default:
           throw __LINE__;
       }
diff --git a/src/SimpleLog.cxx b/src/SimpleLog.cxx
index f2bc2ef..422f791 100644
--- a/src/SimpleLog.cxx
+++ b/src/SimpleLog.cxx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class SimpleLog::Impl
   int formatOptions;
   int fdStdout;
   int fdStderr;
+  bool disableOutput = 0; // when set, messages completely dropped (logfile=/dev/null)
 
   // log rotation settings
   unsigned long rotateMaxBytes = 0;
@@ -65,6 +66,11 @@ SimpleLog::Impl::~Impl()
 
 int SimpleLog::Impl::logV(SimpleLog::Impl::Severity s, const char* message, va_list ap)
 {
+  // immediate return if output disabled
+  if (disableOutput) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   char buffer[1024] = "";
   size_t len = sizeof(buffer) - 2;
   size_t ix = 0;
@@ -167,21 +173,25 @@ SimpleLog::~SimpleLog()
 int SimpleLog::setLogFile(const char* logFilePath, unsigned long rotateMaxBytes, unsigned int rotateMaxFiles, unsigned int rotateNow)
 {
   pImpl->closeLogFile();
+  pImpl->logFilePath = "";
+  pImpl->rotateMaxFiles = 0;
+  pImpl->rotateMaxBytes = 0;
+  pImpl->logFileSize = 0;
+  pImpl->disableOutput = 0;
   if (logFilePath != NULL) {
+    pImpl->logFilePath = logFilePath;
+    if (!strcmp(logFilePath, "/dev/null")) {
+      pImpl->disableOutput = 1;
+      return 0;
+    }
     pImpl->rotateMaxBytes = rotateMaxBytes;
     pImpl->rotateMaxFiles = rotateMaxFiles;
-    pImpl->logFilePath = logFilePath;
     if (rotateNow) {
       pImpl->rotate();
     }
     if (pImpl->openLogFile()) {
       return -1;
     }
-  } else {
-    pImpl->logFilePath = "";
-    pImpl->rotateMaxFiles = 0;
-    pImpl->rotateMaxBytes = 0;
-    pImpl->logFileSize = 0;
   }
   return 0;
 }