diff --git a/cmds/dumpstate/dumpstate.c b/cmds/dumpstate/dumpstate.c
index 4bb05c42b..56ba3c8a2 100644
--- a/cmds/dumpstate/dumpstate.c
+++ b/cmds/dumpstate/dumpstate.c
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ static void dumpstate() {
 }
 
 static void usage() {
-    fprintf(stderr, "usage: dumpstate [-b soundfile] [-e soundfile] [-o file [-d] [-p] [-z]] [-s]\n"
+    fprintf(stderr, "usage: dumpstate [-b soundfile] [-e soundfile] [-o file [-d] [-p] [-z]] [-s] [-q]\n"
             "  -o: write to file (instead of stdout)\n"
             "  -d: append date to filename (requires -o)\n"
             "  -z: gzip output (requires -o)\n"
@@ -302,12 +302,14 @@ static void usage() {
             "  -s: write output to control socket (for init)\n"
             "  -b: play sound file instead of vibrate, at beginning of job\n"
             "  -e: play sound file instead of vibrate, at end of job\n"
+            "  -q: disable vibrate\n"
 		);
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     int do_add_date = 0;
     int do_compress = 0;
+    int do_vibrate = 1;
     char* use_outfile = 0;
     char* begin_sound = 0;
     char* end_sound = 0;
@@ -338,7 +340,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     dump_traces_path = dump_traces();
 
     int c;
-    while ((c = getopt(argc, argv, "b:de:ho:svzp")) != -1) {
+    while ((c = getopt(argc, argv, "b:de:ho:svqzp")) != -1) {
         switch (c) {
             case 'b': begin_sound = optarg;  break;
             case 'd': do_add_date = 1;       break;
@@ -346,6 +348,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
             case 'o': use_outfile = optarg;  break;
             case 's': use_socket = 1;        break;
             case 'v': break;  // compatibility no-op
+            case 'q': do_vibrate = 0;        break;
             case 'z': do_compress = 6;       break;
             case 'p': do_fb = 1;             break;
             case '?': printf("\n");
@@ -355,9 +358,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         }
     }
 
-    /* open the vibrator before dropping root */
-    FILE *vibrator = fopen("/sys/class/timed_output/vibrator/enable", "w");
-    if (vibrator) fcntl(fileno(vibrator), F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC);
+    FILE *vibrator = 0;
+    if (do_vibrate) {
+        /* open the vibrator before dropping root */
+        vibrator = fopen("/sys/class/timed_output/vibrator/enable", "w");
+        if (vibrator) fcntl(fileno(vibrator), F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC);
+    }
 
     /* read /proc/cmdline before dropping root */
     FILE *cmdline = fopen("/proc/cmdline", "r");