diff --git a/sqlite_utils/cli.py b/sqlite_utils/cli.py
index 3f32413..bd063f6 100644
--- a/sqlite_utils/cli.py
+++ b/sqlite_utils/cli.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from .utils import (
     find_spatialite,
     sqlite3,
     decode_base64_values,
+    progressbar,
     rows_from_file,
     Format,
     TypeTracker,
@@ -1744,9 +1745,20 @@ def extract(
 @click.option("--replace", is_flag=True, help="Replace files with matching primary key")
 @click.option("--upsert", is_flag=True, help="Upsert files with matching primary key")
 @click.option("--name", type=str, help="File name to use")
+@click.option("-s", "--silent", is_flag=True, help="Don't show a progress bar")
 @load_extension_option
 def insert_files(
-    path, table, file_or_dir, column, pk, alter, replace, upsert, name, load_extension
+    path,
+    table,
+    file_or_dir,
+    column,
+    pk,
+    alter,
+    replace,
+    upsert,
+    name,
+    silent,
+    load_extension,
 ):
     """
     Insert one or more files using BLOB columns in the specified table
@@ -1783,7 +1795,7 @@ def insert_files(
     # Load all paths so we can show a progress bar
     paths_and_relative_paths = list(yield_paths_and_relative_paths())
 
-    with click.progressbar(paths_and_relative_paths) as bar:
+    with progressbar(paths_and_relative_paths, silent=silent) as bar:
 
         def to_insert():
             for path, relative_path in bar:
diff --git a/sqlite_utils/utils.py b/sqlite_utils/utils.py
index a781469..00a3c02 100644
--- a/sqlite_utils/utils.py
+++ b/sqlite_utils/utils.py
@@ -260,14 +260,21 @@ class ValueTracker:
 
 
 class NullProgressBar:
+    def __init__(self, *args):
+        self.args = args
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        yield from self.args[0]
+
     def update(self, value):
         pass
 
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
-def progressbar(silent=False, **kwargs):
+def progressbar(*args, **kwargs):
+    silent = kwargs.pop("silent")
     if silent:
-        yield NullProgressBar()
+        yield NullProgressBar(*args)
     else:
-        with click.progressbar(**kwargs) as bar:
+        with click.progressbar(*args, **kwargs) as bar:
             yield bar
diff --git a/tests/test_insert_files.py b/tests/test_insert_files.py
index 1a11d2c..1e30a8d 100644
--- a/tests/test_insert_files.py
+++ b/tests/test_insert_files.py
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ from sqlite_utils import cli, Database
 from click.testing import CliRunner
 import os
 import pathlib
+import pytest
 
 
-def test_insert_files():
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("silent", (False, True))
+def test_insert_files(silent):
     runner = CliRunner()
     with runner.isolated_filesystem():
         tmpdir = pathlib.Path(".")
@@ -34,7 +36,10 @@ def test_insert_files():
             cols += ["-c", "{}:{}".format(coltype, coltype)]
         result = runner.invoke(
             cli.cli,
-            ["insert-files", db_path, "files", str(tmpdir)] + cols + ["--pk", "path"],
+            ["insert-files", db_path, "files", str(tmpdir)]
+            + cols
+            + ["--pk", "path"]
+            + (["--silent"] if silent else []),
             catch_exceptions=False,
         )
         assert result.exit_code == 0, result.stdout