diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 9a03b3e8..13cc71b9 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -1158,6 +1158,10 @@ be printed via several options:
 ``--print, -p``     Selects parts of the HTTP exchange.
 ``--quiet, -q``     Doesn't print anything. Overrides other output flags.
 =================   =====================================================
+If ``--quiet`` is used in conjuction with ``--output`` the flag is ignored
+and ``stdout`` is still redirected. If ``--quiet`` is used with ``--download``
+file is still downloaded as usual but ``stdout`` and ``stdin`` are redirected
+to ``devnull``. 
 
 ``--verbose`` can often be useful for debugging the request and generating
 documentation examples:
diff --git a/httpie/cli/argparser.py b/httpie/cli/argparser.py
index 2c52fc54..ddcfb79c 100644
--- a/httpie/cli/argparser.py
+++ b/httpie/cli/argparser.py
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ class HTTPieArgumentParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
             # The response body will be treated separately.
             self.env.stdout = self.env.stderr
             self.env.stdout_isatty = self.env.stderr_isatty
+
         elif self.args.output_file:
             # When not `--download`ing, then `--output` simply replaces
             # `stdout`. The file is opened for appending, which isn't what
@@ -165,8 +166,9 @@ class HTTPieArgumentParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
             self.env.stdout_isatty = False
 
         if self.args.quiet:
-            self.env.stdout = self.env.devnull
             self.env.stderr = self.env.devnull
+            if not (self.args.output_file_specified and not self.args.download):
+                self.env.stdout = self.env.devnull
 
     def _process_auth(self):
         # TODO: refactor & simplify this method.
diff --git a/httpie/cli/definition.py b/httpie/cli/definition.py
index 3eb483ca..764c6c05 100644
--- a/httpie/cli/definition.py
+++ b/httpie/cli/definition.py
@@ -432,7 +432,8 @@ output_options.add_argument(
     default=False,
     help='''
     Do not print to stdout or stderr.
-
+    stdout is still redirected if --output is specified.
+    Flag doesn't affect behaviour of download beyond not printing to terminal.
     '''
 )