diff --git a/src/auth.rs b/src/auth.rs
index fb7ed9b..45c7d30 100644
--- a/src/auth.rs
+++ b/src/auth.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 use base64::Engine;
 
 pub fn get_user_id_from_bearer(bearer: Option<&str>) -> String {
+    get_user_id_from_bearer_with_logging(bearer, true)
+}
+
+pub fn get_user_id_from_bearer_with_logging(bearer: Option<&str>, with_logging: bool) -> String {
     if bearer.is_none() || bearer.map(|s| s.is_empty()).unwrap_or(true) {
-        crate::output::warning("Bearer token is None or empty, using default user_id");
+        if with_logging {
+            crate::output::warning("Bearer token is None or empty, using default user_id");
+        }
         return "__current_user__".to_string();
     }
 
@@ -15,14 +21,18 @@ pub fn get_user_id_from_bearer(bearer: Option<&str>) -> String {
 
     match decode_jwt_sub(token) {
         Ok(user_id) => {
-            crate::output::info(format!("Successfully extracted user_id: {}", user_id));
+            if with_logging {
+                crate::output::info(format!("Successfully extracted user_id: {}", user_id));
+            }
             user_id
         }
         Err(e) => {
-            crate::output::warning(format!(
-                "Failed to decode JWT: {}, using default user_id",
-                e
-            ));
+            if with_logging {
+                crate::output::warning(format!(
+                    "Failed to decode JWT: {}, using default user_id",
+                    e
+                ));
+            }
             "__current_user__".to_string()
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/commands/upload/main.rs b/src/commands/upload/main.rs
index a0942eb..901d8b8 100644
--- a/src/commands/upload/main.rs
+++ b/src/commands/upload/main.rs
@@ -419,10 +419,13 @@ fn run_upload(args: UploadCmdArgs) -> Result<(), String> {
 
     let cfg = api_config::create_config();
     let api_key = api_config::get_api_key(None)?;
-    output::info(format!("API base: {}", cfg.base_path));
+    if !args.machine_readable {
+        output::info(format!("API base: {}", cfg.base_path));
+    }
 
     let bearer_header_for_auth = api_config::get_bearer_header(args.auth_bearer.clone());
-    let user_id = auth::get_user_id_from_bearer(bearer_header_for_auth.as_deref());
+    let user_id =
+        auth::get_user_id_from_bearer_with_logging(bearer_header_for_auth.as_deref(), !args.machine_readable);
 
     if !args.force_upload {
         let before = original_files.len();
@@ -430,7 +433,7 @@ fn run_upload(args: UploadCmdArgs) -> Result<(), String> {
             !super::utils::is_already_uploaded(path, &user_id, &base_dir, &args.in_app_path)
         });
         let skipped = before - original_files.len();
-        if skipped > 0 {
+        if skipped > 0 && !args.machine_readable {
             output::info(format!("Skipped {} already uploaded file(s)", skipped));
         }
         if original_files.is_empty() {
@@ -442,19 +445,23 @@ fn run_upload(args: UploadCmdArgs) -> Result<(), String> {
 
     if args.local_encoding {
         ensure_ffmpeg_available()?;
-        output::info(format!(
-            "Local encoding: downscale + upload queues ({} quality)",
-            args.qualities
-                .iter()
-                .map(|q| q.as_label())
-                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                .join(", ")
-        ));
+        if !args.machine_readable {
+            output::info(format!(
+                "Local encoding: downscale + upload queues ({} quality)",
+                args.qualities
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|q| q.as_label())
+                    .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                    .join(", ")
+            ));
+        }
         if args.qualities.len() > 1 {
             return Err("Only supporting single quality for now".to_string());
         }
         let work_items: Vec<DownscaleWork> = build_downscale_work(&original_files)?;
-        output::info(format!("{} file(s) in downscale queue", work_items.len()));
+        if !args.machine_readable {
+            output::info(format!("{} file(s) in downscale queue", work_items.len()));
+        }
         let uploaded_asset_ids = run_two_queue_pipeline(
             work_items,
             &base_dir,
@@ -513,15 +520,17 @@ fn run_upload(args: UploadCmdArgs) -> Result<(), String> {
     }
 
     let mut files_to_upload: Vec<FileToUpload> = Vec::new();
-    output::info(format!(
-        "Discovered {} file(s) to upload",
-        original_files.len()
-    ));
-    for f in &original_files {
-        if let Ok(md) = std::fs::metadata(f) {
-            output::item(format!("{} ({} bytes)", f.display(), md.len()));
-        } else {
-            output::item(format!("{}", f.display()));
+    if !args.machine_readable {
+        output::info(format!(
+            "Discovered {} file(s) to upload",
+            original_files.len()
+        ));
+        for f in &original_files {
+            if let Ok(md) = std::fs::metadata(f) {
+                output::item(format!("{} ({} bytes)", f.display(), md.len()));
+            } else {
+                output::item(format!("{}", f.display()));
+            }
         }
     }
     for original_file in original_files {
@@ -542,16 +551,28 @@ fn run_upload(args: UploadCmdArgs) -> Result<(), String> {
         .map_err(|e| format!("failed to start runtime: {}", e))?
         .block_on(async move {
             let bearer_header = api_config::get_bearer_header(args.auth_bearer.clone());
-            let mut progress =
-                crate::tui::InlineProgress::new("Uploading Files", files_to_upload.len())?;
-            let progress_handle = progress.clone_handle();
-            let render_handle = progress.start_render_loop(progress_handle.clone());
-
-            let _ = progress_handle.add_info(format!(
-                "One presigned request per file ({} files), {} parallel upload(s)",
-                files_to_upload.len(),
-                args.parallel_uploads
-            ));
+            let mut progress = if args.machine_readable {
+                None
+            } else {
+                Some(crate::tui::InlineProgress::new(
+                    "Uploading Files",
+                    files_to_upload.len(),
+                )?)
+            };
+            let progress_handle = progress.as_ref().map(|p| p.clone_handle());
+            let render_handle = if let (Some(p), Some(ph)) = (progress.as_mut(), progress_handle.as_ref()) {
+                Some(p.start_render_loop(ph.clone()))
+            } else {
+                None
+            };
+
+            if let Some(ph) = progress_handle.as_ref() {
+                let _ = ph.add_info(format!(
+                    "One presigned request per file ({} files), {} parallel upload(s)",
+                    files_to_upload.len(),
+                    args.parallel_uploads
+                ));
+            }
 
             let upload_result = upload_with_per_file_presigned(
                 &files_to_upload,
@@ -560,7 +581,7 @@ fn run_upload(args: UploadCmdArgs) -> Result<(), String> {
                 &upload_request_id,
                 &user_id,
                 args.parallel_uploads,
-                &progress_handle,
+                progress_handle.as_ref(),
                 &cfg,
                 &api_key,
                 bearer_header.as_deref(),
@@ -569,18 +590,23 @@ fn run_upload(args: UploadCmdArgs) -> Result<(), String> {
             )
             .await;
 
-            if let Err(ref e) = upload_result {
-                let _ = progress_handle.add_error(format!("Upload failed: {}", e));
+            if let (Err(e), Some(ph)) = (&upload_result, progress_handle.as_ref()) {
+                let _ = ph.add_error(format!("Upload failed: {}", e));
             }
             let uploaded_asset_ids = upload_result?;
 
-            let _ = progress_handle.add_success("All uploads completed");
-
-            crate::tui::InlineProgress::stop_render_loop(render_handle).await;
-            progress.finish()?;
+            if let Some(ph) = progress_handle.as_ref() {
+                let _ = ph.add_success("All uploads completed");
+            }
 
-            // Add empty line after progress display
-            println!();
+            if let Some(handle) = render_handle {
+                crate::tui::InlineProgress::stop_render_loop(handle).await;
+            }
+            if let Some(mut p) = progress {
+                p.finish()?;
+                // Add empty line after progress display
+                println!();
+            }
 
             if let Some(mode) = status_wait_mode {
                 let wait_result = wait_for_asset_processing_status(
@@ -1132,7 +1158,7 @@ async fn upload_with_per_file_presigned(
     upload_request_id: &str,
     user_id: &str,
     max_concurrent: usize,
-    progress_handle: &ProgressHandle,
+    progress_handle: Option<&ProgressHandle>,
     cfg: &Configuration,
     api_key: &str,
     bearer_opt: Option<&str>,
@@ -1163,7 +1189,7 @@ async fn upload_with_per_file_presigned(
         let file_info = file_info.clone();
         let http_clone = Arc::clone(&http);
         let semaphore_clone = Arc::clone(&semaphore);
-        let progress_handle_clone = progress_handle.clone();
+        let progress_handle_clone = progress_handle.cloned();
         let cfg_clone = cfg.clone();
         let api_key_clone = api_key.clone();
         let bearer_clone = bearer_opt.clone();
@@ -1204,7 +1230,9 @@ async fn upload_with_per_file_presigned(
                 .unwrap_or_default()
                 .to_string_lossy()
                 .to_string();
-            let _ = progress_handle_clone.start_task(task_id, file_name.clone(), file_size);
+            if let Some(ph) = progress_handle_clone.as_ref() {
+                let _ = ph.start_task(task_id, file_name.clone(), file_size);
+            }
 
             let result = upload_single_file(
                 &file_info.upload_path,
@@ -1215,7 +1243,7 @@ async fn upload_with_per_file_presigned(
                 &user_id_clone,
                 task_id,
                 http_clone.as_ref(),
-                &progress_handle_clone,
+                progress_handle_clone.as_ref(),
                 file_size,
                 &cfg_clone,
                 &api_key_clone,
@@ -1224,7 +1252,9 @@ async fn upload_with_per_file_presigned(
             .await;
 
             let success = result.is_ok();
-            let _ = progress_handle_clone.finish_task(task_id, success);
+            if let Some(ph) = progress_handle_clone.as_ref() {
+                let _ = ph.finish_task(task_id, success);
+            }
 
             if success {
                 if let Ok(mut guard) = uploaded_asset_ids_clone.lock() {
@@ -1254,10 +1284,9 @@ async fn upload_with_per_file_presigned(
                 )
                 .await
                 {
-                    let _ = progress_handle_clone.add_error(format!(
-                        "Failed to trigger preprocess: {}",
-                        e
-                    ));
+                    if let Some(ph) = progress_handle_clone.as_ref() {
+                        let _ = ph.add_error(format!("Failed to trigger preprocess: {}", e));
+                    }
                     return Err(format!("preprocess: {}", e));
                 }
             }
@@ -1728,7 +1757,7 @@ async fn upload_single_file(
     user_id: &str,
     task_id: usize,
     http: &reqwest::Client,
-    progress_handle: &ProgressHandle,
+    progress_handle: Option<&ProgressHandle>,
     total_bytes: u64,
     _cfg: &Configuration,
     _api_key: &str,
@@ -1753,7 +1782,9 @@ async fn upload_single_file(
             }
             buf.extend_from_slice(&chunk[..n]);
             uploaded += n as u64;
-            let _ = progress_handle.update_task(task_id, uploaded);
+            if let Some(ph) = progress_handle {
+                let _ = ph.update_task(task_id, uploaded);
+            }
         }
 
         let content_type = mime_guess::from_path(file_path)
@@ -1770,7 +1801,9 @@ async fn upload_single_file(
             .await
             .map_err(|e| format!("upload failed for {}: {}", file_path.display(), e))?;
 
-        let _ = progress_handle.update_task(task_id, total_bytes);
+        if let Some(ph) = progress_handle {
+            let _ = ph.update_task(task_id, total_bytes);
+        }
 
         if !put_res.status().is_success() {
             let status = put_res.status();
@@ -1784,7 +1817,9 @@ async fn upload_single_file(
                 status,
                 body
             );
-            let _ = progress_handle.add_error(error_msg.clone());
+            if let Some(ph) = progress_handle {
+                let _ = ph.add_error(error_msg.clone());
+            }
             return Err(error_msg);
         }
 
@@ -1795,8 +1830,9 @@ async fn upload_single_file(
         &upload_resp.asset_id,
         upload_request_id,
     ) {
-        let _ =
-            progress_handle.add_warning(format!("Failed to record upload in tracking file: {}", e));
+        if let Some(ph) = progress_handle {
+            let _ = ph.add_warning(format!("Failed to record upload in tracking file: {}", e));
+        }
     }
 
     Ok(())
diff --git a/src/commands/upload/mod.rs b/src/commands/upload/mod.rs
index 74363fe..2ae2f49 100644
--- a/src/commands/upload/mod.rs
+++ b/src/commands/upload/mod.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ mod dry_run;
 mod main;
 mod utils;
 
-pub use main::{run, UploadArgs};
+pub use main::{run, UploadArgs, UploadCommand};
 
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index e9b6d29..b82ae66 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -44,8 +44,14 @@ fn main() {
             }
         }
         Some(cli::Command::Upload(upload_args)) => {
+            let suppress_plain_error = matches!(
+                &upload_args.command,
+                commands::upload::UploadCommand::Upload(args) if args.machine_readable
+            );
             if let Err(error) = commands::upload::run(upload_args) {
-                eprintln!("error: {}", error);
+                if !suppress_plain_error {
+                    eprintln!("error: {}", error);
+                }
                 std::process::exit(1);
             }
         }