diff --git a/cli_common.c b/cli_common.c
index d041bc1..8be6981 100644
--- a/cli_common.c
+++ b/cli_common.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  * GNU General Public License for more details.
  */
 
+#include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -35,6 +36,34 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/* Ensure a file is open by means of fstat */
+static bool cli_check_file(FILE *file)
+{
+	struct stat statbuf;
+
+	if (fstat(fileno(file), &statbuf) < 0)
+		return false;
+	return true;
+}
+
+int cli_init(void)
+{
+	/*
+	 * Safety-guard against a user who has (mistakenly) closed
+	 * stdout or stderr before exec'ing flashprog.  We disable
+	 * logging in this case to prevent writing log data to a flash
+	 * chip when a flash device gets opened with fd 1 or 2.
+	 */
+	if (cli_check_file(stdout) && cli_check_file(stderr)) {
+		flashprog_set_log_callback((flashprog_log_callback *)&flashprog_print_cb);
+	}
+
+	print_version();
+	print_banner();
+
+	return flashprog_init(/* perform_selfcheck => */1);
+}
+
 int cli_parse_log_args(struct log_args *const args, const int opt, const char *const optarg)
 {
 	switch (opt) {