diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 262b09f..3cbca88 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ var (
 	// authSecretIsHex is used to recall whether the encryption secret was
 	// determined to be pure hex.
 	encrSecretIsHex bool
+	quiet           bool
 )
 
 func Load(conf string, isPath bool) (*Config, error) {
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ func Load(conf string, isPath bool) (*Config, error) {
 		)
 	}
 
-	if config.DevelMode && os.Getenv("PCMT_DEVEL") != "False" {
+	if config.DevelMode && os.Getenv("PCMT_DEVEL") != "False" && !quiet {
 		log.Debug("set DEBUG level based on config value")
 
 		slogger = slogging.SetLevel(slogging.LevelDebug)
@@ -278,3 +279,8 @@ func dhallCmdExists() bool {
 
 	return true
 }
+
+// BeQuiet instruct this package to be more frugal with logging/printing info.
+func BeQuiet() {
+	quiet = true
+}
diff --git a/run.go b/run.go
index bea1d69..e3c5a34 100644
--- a/run.go
+++ b/run.go
@@ -80,21 +80,25 @@ func run() error { //nolint:gocognit
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// skip printing program header.
-	skipHeader := false
+	// skip printing program header and some other stuff.
+	shortCircuit := false
 
 	var doingImport bool
 
 	if importFlag != nil && *importFlag != "" {
 		doingImport = true
-		skipHeader = true
+		shortCircuit = true
+
+		config.BeQuiet()
 	}
 
 	if *printMigrationFlag {
-		skipHeader = true
+		shortCircuit = true
+
+		config.BeQuiet()
 	}
 
-	if !skipHeader {
+	if !shortCircuit {
 		printHeader()
 	}
 
@@ -133,9 +137,11 @@ func run() error { //nolint:gocognit
 
 	setting := settings.New()
 
-	setting.Consolidate(
-		conf, hostFlag, portFlag, develFlag, version,
-	)
+	if !shortCircuit {
+		setting.Consolidate(
+			conf, hostFlag, portFlag, develFlag, version,
+		)
+	}
 
 	// expected connstring form for "github.com/xiaoqidun/entps":
 	// "file:ent?mode=memory&cache=shared&_fk=1"