diff --git a/collects/help/help.ss b/collects/help/help.ss
index 83952d81..cd522867 100644
--- a/collects/help/help.ss
+++ b/collects/help/help.ss
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
   (define launch-browser? #t)
   (define external-connections? #f)
   (define iconize? #f)
+  (define quiet? #f)
   (define port #f)
 
   (command-line
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@
      (set! external-connections? #t)]
     [("-i" "--iconize") "Iconize the control panel"
      (set! iconize? #t)]
+    [("-q" "--quiet") "Don't show the control panel"
+     (set! quiet? #t)]
     [("-p" "--port") number "Use given port number"
      (with-handlers
       ((void (lambda _
@@ -51,78 +54,82 @@
        ; allow browser startup time
 	(sleep 2))
 
-  (define hd-frame%
-    (class frame%
-	   (inherit show)
-	   (field
-	    [panel #f]
-	    [main-sd-button #f]
-	    [shutdown-dialog
-	     (lambda ()
-	       (let* ([cb-frame (instantiate frame% ()
-					    (label "Confirm"))]
-		      [vpanel (instantiate vertical-panel% ()
-					   (parent cb-frame))]
-		      [msg (instantiate message% ()
-					(label "Really shutdown Help Desk server?")
-					(parent vpanel))]
-		      [hpanel (instantiate horizontal-panel% ()
-					   (parent vpanel)
-					   (alignment '(center center)))]
-		      [sd-button (instantiate button% ()
-				   (label "Shutdown")
-				   (parent hpanel)
-				   (callback (lambda (b ev)
-					       (send cb-frame show #f)
-					       (send this show #f))))]
-		      [no-sd-button (instantiate button% ()
-				      (label "Cancel")
-				      (parent hpanel)
-				      (callback (lambda (b ev)
-						  (send main-sd-button 
-							enable #t)
-						  (send cb-frame show #f))))])
-		 (send main-sd-button enable #f)
-		 (send cb-frame center)
-		 (send cb-frame show #t)))])
-	   (super-instantiate ())
-	   (set! panel
-		 (instantiate vertical-panel% ()
-			      (parent this)))
-	   (instantiate message% () 
-			(label (format "Help Desk server running on port ~a" 
-				       (hd-cookie->port hd-cookie)))
-			(parent panel))
-	   (instantiate button% ()
-			(label "Help Desk Home")
-			(parent panel)
-			(min-width 100)
-			(callback 
-			 (lambda (b ev)
-			   (help-desk-browser hd-cookie))))
-	   (set! main-sd-button
-		 (instantiate button% ()
-			      (label "Shutdown Server")
-			      (parent panel)
-			      (min-width 100)
-			      (callback (lambda (b ev)
-					  (shutdown-dialog)))))))
-
-  (define frame 
-    (instantiate hd-frame% ()
-		 (label "PLT Help Desk")
-		 (min-width 175)
-		 (stretchable-width #f)
-		 (stretchable-height #f)))
-
-  (send frame center)
-  (send frame show #t)
-  (when iconize?
-	(send frame iconize #t)))
-
-
-
-
-
-
+  (if quiet?
+      (semaphore-wait (make-semaphore 0))
+      (let* ([hd-frame%
+	      (class frame%
+		     (inherit show)
+		     (field
+		      [panel #f]
+		      [main-sd-button #f]
+		      [shutdown-dialog
+		       (lambda ()
+			 (let* ([cb-frame (instantiate frame% ()
+						       (label "Confirm"))]
+				[vpanel (instantiate vertical-panel% ()
+						     (parent cb-frame))]
+				[msg (instantiate message% ()
+						  (label "Really shutdown Help Desk server?")
+						  (parent vpanel))]
+				[hpanel (instantiate horizontal-panel% ()
+						     (parent vpanel)
+						     (alignment '(center center)))]
+				[sd-button (instantiate button% ()
+							(label "Shutdown")
+							(parent hpanel)
+							(callback (lambda (b ev)
+								    (send cb-frame show #f)
+								    (send this show #f))))]
+				[no-sd-button (instantiate button% ()
+							   (label "Cancel")
+							   (parent hpanel)
+							   (callback (lambda (b ev)
+								       (send main-sd-button 
+									     enable #t)
+								       (send cb-frame show #f))))])
+			   (send main-sd-button enable #f)
+			   (send cb-frame center)
+			   (send cb-frame show #t)))])
+		     (super-instantiate ())
+		     (set! panel
+			   (instantiate vertical-panel% ()
+					(parent this)))
+		     (instantiate message% () 
+				  (label (format "Help Desk server running on port ~a" 
+						 (hd-cookie->port hd-cookie)))
+				  (parent panel))
+		     (instantiate button% ()
+				  (label "Help Desk Home")
+				  (parent panel)
+				  (min-width 100)
+				  (callback 
+				   (lambda (b ev)
+				     (help-desk-browser hd-cookie))))
+		     (set! main-sd-button
+			   (instantiate button% ()
+					(label "Shutdown Server")
+					(parent panel)
+					(min-width 100)
+					(callback (lambda (b ev)
+						    (shutdown-dialog))))))]
+	     [frame 
+	      (instantiate hd-frame% ()
+			   (label "PLT Help Desk")
+			   (min-width 175)
+			   (stretchable-width #f)
+			   (stretchable-height #f))])
+	(send frame center)
+	(send frame show #t)
+	(when iconize?
+	      (send frame iconize #t)))))
 
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