diff --git a/cmd/restic/global.go b/cmd/restic/global.go
index 942c536ff..9f42f851a 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/global.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/global.go
@@ -502,8 +502,9 @@ func OpenRepository(opts GlobalOptions) (*repository.Repository, error) {
 
 	// cleanup old cache dirs if instructed to do so
 	if opts.CleanupCache {
-		Printf("removing %d old cache dirs from %v\n", len(oldCacheDirs), c.Base)
-
+		if stdoutIsTerminal() && !opts.JSON {
+			Verbosef("removing %d old cache dirs from %v\n", len(oldCacheDirs), c.Base)
+		}
 		for _, item := range oldCacheDirs {
 			dir := filepath.Join(c.Base, item.Name())
 			err = fs.RemoveAll(dir)