diff --git a/archivebox/tests/test_setup_script.py b/archivebox/tests/test_setup_script.py
index dbb5e26e..04a56cd4 100644
--- a/archivebox/tests/test_setup_script.py
+++ b/archivebox/tests/test_setup_script.py
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ def test_setup_script_prints_root_safe_runtime_commands():
     assert "--connect-timeout 1 --max-time 2" in script
 
 
+def test_setup_script_does_not_clear_without_a_terminal():
+    script = SETUP_SCRIPT.read_text()
+
+    assert "if [ -t 1 ]; then\n    clear\nfi" in script
+
+
 def test_setup_script_moves_legacy_collection_without_moving_compose(tmp_path):
     script = SETUP_SCRIPT.read_text()
     function_prefix = script.partition("\ndocker_pull_archivebox() {")[0]
diff --git a/bin/setup.sh b/bin/setup.sh
index 5a6ecc20..826793f8 100755
--- a/bin/setup.sh
+++ b/bin/setup.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ fi
 if (set -o errtrace) 2>/dev/null; then
     set -o errtrace
 fi
-clear
+if [ -t 1 ]; then
+    clear
+fi
 
 RUNNING_AS_ROOT="false"
 ARCHIVEBOX_SYSTEM_USER="archivebox"