diff --git a/goat_monitor/goat_monitor.py b/goat_monitor/goat_monitor.py
index 91747fa..44015e1 100644
--- a/goat_monitor/goat_monitor.py
+++ b/goat_monitor/goat_monitor.py
@@ -34,7 +34,13 @@ from goat_monitor._version import __version__  # type: ignore
     default=False,
     help="Print version and exit",
 )
-def wrap(command: List[str], config: Path, retries: int, version):
+@click.option(
+    "--dry-run",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="Run command without sending any notifications",
+)
+def wrap(command: List[str], config: Path, retries: int, version: bool, dry_run: bool):
     """Wrap an arbitrary command with gotify notifications"""
 
     if version:
@@ -46,13 +52,14 @@ def wrap(command: List[str], config: Path, retries: int, version):
         settings = toml.load(f)
 
     # gotify configuration
-    url = settings["server"]
-    app_token = settings["app_token"]
-    with gotify.Gotify(base_url=url, app_token=app_token) as gotify_connection:
-        # this is just to test configuration.
-        # I don't know how long a gotify connection will stay up so rather than thinking about it
-        # I'm just creating a new one whenever I need to send a message
-        pass
+    if not dry_run:
+        url = settings["server"]
+        app_token = settings["app_token"]
+        with gotify.Gotify(base_url=url, app_token=app_token) as gotify_connection:
+            # this is just to test configuration.
+            # I don't know how long a gotify connection will stay up so rather than thinking about it
+            # I'm just creating a new one whenever I need to send a message
+            pass
 
     if retries == -1:
         retries = np.inf
@@ -95,8 +102,9 @@ def wrap(command: List[str], config: Path, retries: int, version):
             + "\n".join(lines)
         )
 
-        with gotify.Gotify(base_url=url, app_token=app_token) as gotify_connection:
-            gotify_connection.create_message(message=message, title=title)
+        if not dry_run:
+            with gotify.Gotify(base_url=url, app_token=app_token) as gotify_connection:
+                gotify_connection.create_message(message=message, title=title)
 
         if not result.returncode:
             # only retry on failure