diff --git a/ipykernel/kernelapp.py b/ipykernel/kernelapp.py
index fcbe5e479..bd6968da3 100644
--- a/ipykernel/kernelapp.py
+++ b/ipykernel/kernelapp.py
@@ -288,7 +288,8 @@ def log_connection_info(self):
         for line in lines:
             self.log.info(line)
         # also raw print to the terminal if no parent_handle (`ipython kernel`)
-        if not self.parent_handle:
+        # unless log-level is CRITICAL (--quiet)
+        if not self.parent_handle and self.log_level < logging.CRITICAL:
             io.rprint(_ctrl_c_message)
             for line in lines:
                 io.rprint(line)