diff --git a/fdroidserver/common.py b/fdroidserver/common.py
index 624e9353..8248a944 100644
--- a/fdroidserver/common.py
+++ b/fdroidserver/common.py
@@ -128,6 +128,13 @@ default_config = {
 
 
 def setup_global_opts(parser):
+    try:  # the buildserver VM might not have PIL installed
+        from PIL import PngImagePlugin
+        logger = logging.getLogger(PngImagePlugin.__name__)
+        logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)  # tame the "STREAM" debug messages
+    except ImportError:
+        pass
+
     parser.add_argument("-v", "--verbose", action="store_true", default=False,
                         help=_("Spew out even more information than normal"))
     parser.add_argument("-q", "--quiet", action="store_true", default=False,