diff --git a/data/bash-completion/fwupdmgr.in b/data/bash-completion/fwupdmgr.in
index 0f569ec74..ffab18214 100644
--- a/data/bash-completion/fwupdmgr.in
+++ b/data/bash-completion/fwupdmgr.in
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ _fwupdmgr_opts=(
 	'--show-all-devices'
 	'--sign'
 	'--filter'
-	'--log'
 	'--disable-ssl-strict'
 )
 
diff --git a/data/daemon.conf b/data/daemon.conf
index 9be2843d6..8b472b9ef 100644
--- a/data/daemon.conf
+++ b/data/daemon.conf
@@ -22,3 +22,6 @@ IdleTimeout=7200
 # If set to FuValue, FuValue domain (same as --domain-verbose=FuValue)
 # If set to *, all domains (same as --verbose)
 VerboseDomains=
+
+# Update the message of the day (MOTD) on device and metadata changes
+UpdateMotd=true
diff --git a/data/fwupd.service.in b/data/fwupd.service.in
index 4085632e5..8fdb9cc65 100644
--- a/data/fwupd.service.in
+++ b/data/fwupd.service.in
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ Before=display-manager.service
 
 [Service]
 Type=dbus
+RuntimeDirectory=@motd_dir@
+RuntimeDirectoryPreserve=yes
 BusName=org.freedesktop.fwupd
 ExecStart=@libexecdir@/fwupd/fwupd
 StateDirectory=@package_name@
diff --git a/data/meson.build b/data/meson.build
index 25db95097..37bb001e8 100644
--- a/data/meson.build
+++ b/data/meson.build
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ endif
 if (get_option('systemd') or get_option('elogind')) and build_daemon
   con2 = configuration_data()
   con2.set('libexecdir', libexecdir)
+  con2.set('motd_dir', motd_dir)
 
   # replace @libexecdir@
   configure_file(
diff --git a/data/motd/fwupd-refresh.service.in b/data/motd/fwupd-refresh.service
similarity index 87%
rename from data/motd/fwupd-refresh.service.in
rename to data/motd/fwupd-refresh.service
index 2264eb07b..8a67a3fd3 100644
--- a/data/motd/fwupd-refresh.service.in
+++ b/data/motd/fwupd-refresh.service
@@ -5,9 +5,7 @@ After=network.target network-online.target systemd-networkd.service NetworkManag
 
 [Service]
 Type=oneshot
-RuntimeDirectory=@motd_dir@
 CacheDirectory=fwupdmgr
-RuntimeDirectoryPreserve=yes
 StandardError=null
 DynamicUser=yes
 RestrictAddressFamilies=AF_NETLINK AF_UNIX AF_INET AF_INET6
@@ -17,4 +15,3 @@ ProtectControlGroups=yes
 RestrictRealtime=yes
 SuccessExitStatus=2
 ExecStart=@bindir@/fwupdmgr refresh --no-metadata-check
-@dynamic_options@
diff --git a/data/motd/meson.build b/data/motd/meson.build
index b583fb7f7..fb8d352f9 100644
--- a/data/motd/meson.build
+++ b/data/motd/meson.build
@@ -1,35 +1,20 @@
-motd_file = '85-fwupd'
-motd_dir = 'motd.d'
-fwupdmgr_path = join_paths (bindir, 'fwupdmgr')
-motd_fullpath = join_paths ('/run', motd_dir, motd_file)
-con2 = configuration_data()
-con2.set('bindir', bindir)
-con2.set('motd_file', motd_file)
-con2.set('motd_dir', motd_dir)
-con2.set('motd_fullpath', motd_fullpath)
 
 if get_option('systemd')
   install_data(['fwupd-refresh.timer'],
     install_dir: systemdunitdir)
   install_data(['fwupd-refresh.preset'],
     install_dir: systemdsystempresetdir)
-
-  dynamic_options = []
-  if systemd.version().version_compare('>= 243')
-    dynamic_options += 'ExecStart=' + fwupdmgr_path + ' get-updates --log ' + motd_file
-  else
-    dynamic_options += '# motd population disabled; requires systemd v243 or later'
-  endif
-  con2.set('dynamic_options', '\n'.join(dynamic_options))
-
-  configure_file(
-    input : 'fwupd-refresh.service.in',
-    output : 'fwupd-refresh.service',
-    configuration : con2,
-    install: true,
+  install_data(['fwupd-refresh.service'],
     install_dir: systemdunitdir)
+  motd_fullpath = join_paths ('/run', motd_dir, motd_file)
+else
+  motd_fullpath = join_paths (localstatedir, motd_dir, motd_file)
 endif
 
+con2 = configuration_data()
+con2.set('motd_fullpath', motd_fullpath)
+
+
 # This file is only used in Ubuntu, which chooses to use update-motd instead
 # of sourcing /run/motd.d/*
 # See https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pam/+bug/399071
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 1e9b8a4cc..63f2797ff 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -397,6 +397,12 @@ endif
 conf.set_quoted('GETTEXT_PACKAGE', meson.project_name())
 conf.set_quoted('PACKAGE_NAME', meson.project_name())
 conf.set_quoted('VERSION', meson.project_version())
+
+motd_file = '85-fwupd'
+motd_dir = 'motd.d'
+conf.set_quoted('MOTD_FILE', motd_file)
+conf.set_quoted('MOTD_DIR', motd_dir)
+
 configure_file(
   output : 'config.h',
   configuration : conf
diff --git a/po/POTFILES.in b/po/POTFILES.in
index c459d7eb4..ff7003b3f 100644
--- a/po/POTFILES.in
+++ b/po/POTFILES.in
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ plugins/uefi/fu-plugin-uefi.c
 plugins/uefi/fu-uefi-tool.c
 src/fu-agent.c
 src/fu-debug.c
+src/fu-engine-helper.c
 src/fu-main.c
 src/fu-offline.c
 src/fu-progressbar.c
diff --git a/src/fu-config.c b/src/fu-config.c
index ec3f54ef5..50ed6b199 100644
--- a/src/fu-config.c
+++ b/src/fu-config.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ struct _FuConfig
 	guint64			 archive_size_max;
 	guint			 idle_timeout;
 	gchar			*config_file;
+	gboolean		 update_motd;
 };
 
 G_DEFINE_TYPE (FuConfig, fu_config, G_TYPE_OBJECT)
@@ -126,6 +127,12 @@ fu_config_reload (FuConfig *self, GError **error)
 	if (domains != NULL && domains[0] != '\0')
 		g_setenv ("FWUPD_VERBOSE", domains, TRUE);
 
+	/* whether to update the motd on changes */
+	self->update_motd = g_key_file_get_boolean (keyfile,
+						   "fwupd",
+						   "UpdateMotd",
+						   NULL);
+
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -223,6 +230,13 @@ fu_config_get_approved_firmware (FuConfig *self)
 	return self->approved_firmware;
 }
 
+gboolean
+fu_config_get_update_motd (FuConfig *self)
+{
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_CONFIG (self), FALSE);
+	return self->update_motd;
+}
+
 static void
 fu_config_class_init (FuConfigClass *klass)
 {
diff --git a/src/fu-config.h b/src/fu-config.h
index 845baa425..a6bd85f3b 100644
--- a/src/fu-config.h
+++ b/src/fu-config.h
@@ -26,3 +26,4 @@ guint		 fu_config_get_idle_timeout		(FuConfig	*self);
 GPtrArray	*fu_config_get_blacklist_devices	(FuConfig	*self);
 GPtrArray	*fu_config_get_blacklist_plugins	(FuConfig	*self);
 GPtrArray	*fu_config_get_approved_firmware	(FuConfig	*self);
+gboolean	 fu_config_get_update_motd		(FuConfig	*self);
diff --git a/src/fu-engine-helper.c b/src/fu-engine-helper.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4d403d0c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/fu-engine-helper.c
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2020 Mario Limonciello <mario.limonciello@dell.com>
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1+
+ */
+
+#define G_LOG_DOMAIN				"FuEngine"
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <glib/gi18n.h>
+
+#include "fu-engine.h"
+#include "fu-engine-helper.h"
+
+gboolean
+fu_engine_update_motd (FuEngine *self, GError **error)
+{
+	guint upgrade_count = 0;
+	g_autoptr(GPtrArray) devices = NULL;
+	g_autoptr(GString) str = NULL;
+	g_autofree gchar *target = NULL;
+
+	/* get devices from daemon, we even want to know if it's nothing */
+	devices = fu_engine_get_devices (self, NULL);
+	if (devices != NULL) {
+		for (guint i = 0; i < devices->len; i++) {
+			FwupdDevice *dev = g_ptr_array_index (devices, i);
+			g_autoptr(GPtrArray) rels = NULL;
+
+			/* get the releases for this device */
+			rels = fu_engine_get_upgrades (self,
+							fwupd_device_get_id (dev),
+							NULL);
+			if (rels == NULL)
+				continue;
+			upgrade_count++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* If running under systemd unit, use the directory as a base */
+	if (g_getenv ("RUNTIME_DIRECTORY") != NULL) {
+		target = g_build_filename (g_getenv ("RUNTIME_DIRECTORY"),
+					   PACKAGE_NAME,
+					   MOTD_FILE,
+					   NULL);
+	/* otherwise use the cache directory */
+	} else {
+		g_autofree gchar *directory = fu_common_get_path (FU_PATH_KIND_CACHEDIR_PKG);
+		target = g_build_filename (directory, MOTD_DIR, MOTD_FILE, NULL);
+	}
+
+	/* create the directory and file, even if zero devices; we want an empty file then */
+	if (!fu_common_mkdir_parent (target, error))
+		return FALSE;
+
+	if (upgrade_count == 0) {
+		g_autoptr(GFile) file = g_file_new_for_path (target);
+		g_autoptr(GFileOutputStream) output = NULL;
+		output = g_file_replace (file, NULL, FALSE,
+					 G_FILE_CREATE_NONE,
+					 NULL, error);
+		return output != NULL;
+	}
+
+	str = g_string_new ("");
+	if (upgrade_count == 1) {
+		g_string_append_printf (str,
+					_("%u device has a firmware upgrade available."),
+					upgrade_count);
+	} else {
+		g_string_append_printf (str,
+					_("%u devices have a firmware upgrade available."),
+					upgrade_count);
+	}
+	g_string_append_printf (str,
+				"\n%s\n",
+				_("Run `fwupdmgr get-upgrades` for more information."));
+	return g_file_set_contents (target, str->str, str->len, error);
+}
+
diff --git a/src/fu-engine-helper.h b/src/fu-engine-helper.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9491ca9de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/fu-engine-helper.h
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2020 Mario Limonciello <mario.limonciello@dell.com>
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1+
+ */
+#pragma once
+
+#include "fu-engine.h"
+
+gboolean	fu_engine_update_motd		(FuEngine	*self,
+						 GError		**error);
diff --git a/src/fu-engine.c b/src/fu-engine.c
index 5df9f0547..0c8c40387 100644
--- a/src/fu-engine.c
+++ b/src/fu-engine.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "fu-device-list.h"
 #include "fu-device-private.h"
 #include "fu-engine.h"
+#include "fu-engine-helper.h"
 #include "fu-hwids.h"
 #include "fu-idle.h"
 #include "fu-keyring-utils.h"
@@ -117,6 +118,14 @@ fu_engine_emit_changed (FuEngine *self)
 {
 	g_signal_emit (self, signals[SIGNAL_CHANGED], 0);
 	fu_engine_idle_reset (self);
+
+	/* update the motd */
+	if (self->loaded &&
+	    fu_config_get_update_motd (self->config)) {
+		g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
+		if (!fu_engine_update_motd (self, &error_local))
+			g_debug ("%s", error_local->message);
+	}
 }
 
 static void
@@ -551,6 +560,7 @@ fu_engine_modify_config (FuEngine *self, const gchar *key, const gchar *value, G
 		"BlacklistPlugins",
 		"IdleTimeout",
 		"VerboseDomains",
+		"UpdateMotd",
 		NULL };
 
 	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_ENGINE (self), FALSE);
@@ -1913,6 +1923,10 @@ fu_engine_install_release (FuEngine *self,
 	if ((flags & FWUPD_INSTALL_FLAG_NO_HISTORY) == 0 &&
 	    !fu_history_modify_device (self->history, device, error))
 		return FALSE;
+
+	/* make the UI update */
+	fu_engine_emit_changed (self);
+
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -2531,7 +2545,6 @@ fu_engine_install_blob (FuEngine *self,
 
 	/* make the UI update */
 	fu_engine_set_status (self, FWUPD_STATUS_IDLE);
-	fu_engine_emit_changed (self);
 	g_debug ("Updating %s took %f seconds", fu_device_get_name (device),
 		 g_timer_elapsed (timer, NULL));
 	return TRUE;
@@ -2867,6 +2880,9 @@ fu_engine_remote_list_changed_cb (FuRemoteList *remote_list, FuEngine *self)
 					    &error_local))
 		g_warning ("Failed to reload metadata store: %s",
 			   error_local->message);
+
+	/* make the UI update */
+	fu_engine_emit_changed (self);
 }
 
 #ifdef HAVE_GIO_UNIX
@@ -3021,7 +3037,11 @@ fu_engine_update_metadata (FuEngine *self, const gchar *remote_id,
 						   bytes_sig, error))
 			return FALSE;
 	}
-	return fu_engine_load_metadata_store (self, FU_ENGINE_LOAD_FLAG_NONE, error);
+	if (!fu_engine_load_metadata_store (self, FU_ENGINE_LOAD_FLAG_NONE, error))
+		return FALSE;
+	fu_engine_emit_changed (self);
+	return TRUE;
+
 #else
 	g_set_error (error,
 		     FWUPD_ERROR,
@@ -4310,6 +4330,8 @@ fu_engine_add_device (FuEngine *self, FuDevice *device)
 
 	/* sometimes inherit flags from recent history */
 	fu_engine_device_inherit_history (self, device);
+
+	fu_engine_emit_changed (self);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -5233,6 +5255,9 @@ fu_engine_load (FuEngine *self, FuEngineLoadFlags flags, GError **error)
 	fu_engine_set_status (self, FWUPD_STATUS_IDLE);
 	self->loaded = TRUE;
 
+	/* let clients know engine finished starting up */
+	fu_engine_emit_changed (self);
+
 	/* success */
 	return TRUE;
 }
diff --git a/src/fu-util.c b/src/fu-util.c
index 4babd22f3..4a3d94b46 100644
--- a/src/fu-util.c
+++ b/src/fu-util.c
@@ -77,8 +77,6 @@ struct FuUtilPrivate {
 	FwupdDeviceFlags	 filter_exclude;
 };
 
-static GFileOutputStream *log_output = NULL;
-
 static gboolean	fu_util_report_history (FuUtilPrivate *priv, gchar **values, GError **error);
 static gboolean	fu_util_download_file	(FuUtilPrivate	*priv,
 					 SoupURI	*uri,
@@ -2384,33 +2382,6 @@ fu_util_check_polkit_actions (GError **error)
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
-static void
-fu_util_log_output (const gchar *str)
-{
-	if (log_output != NULL) {
-		g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
-		if (g_output_stream_write (G_OUTPUT_STREAM (log_output),
-					   str, strlen(str),
-					   NULL, &error_local) <0)
-			g_printerr ("%s\n", error_local->message);
-	}
-}
-
-static void
-fu_util_close_log (void)
-{
-	if (log_output != NULL) {
-		g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
-		if (!g_output_stream_close (G_OUTPUT_STREAM (log_output),
-					    NULL,
-					    &error_local)) {
-			g_printerr ("%s\n", error_local->message);
-			return;
-		}
-		g_object_unref (log_output);
-	}
-}
-
 static void
 fu_util_display_help (FuUtilPrivate *priv)
 {
@@ -2463,9 +2434,6 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 		{ "assume-yes", 'y', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE, &priv->assume_yes,
 			/* TRANSLATORS: command line option */
 			_("Answer yes to all questions"), NULL },
-		{ "log", '\0', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_STRING, &log,
-			/* TRANSLATORS: command line option */
-			_("Log output to FILE (typically for scripting use)"), NULL },
 		{ "sign", '\0', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE, &priv->sign,
 			/* TRANSLATORS: command line option */
 			_("Sign the uploaded data with the client certificate"), NULL },
@@ -2710,8 +2678,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
 
 	/* non-TTY consoles cannot answer questions */
-	if (log != NULL ||
-	    isatty (fileno (stdout)) == 0) {
+	if (isatty (fileno (stdout)) == 0) {
 		priv->no_unreported_check = TRUE;
 		priv->no_metadata_check = TRUE;
 		priv->no_reboot_check = TRUE;
@@ -2808,27 +2775,6 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}
 
-	/* configure stdout redirection */
-	if (log != NULL) {
-		g_autoptr(GFile) file = NULL;
-		g_autofree gchar *target_fname = NULL;
-		/* If running under systemd unit, use the directory as a base */
-		if (g_getenv ("RUNTIME_DIRECTORY") != NULL) {
-			target_fname = g_build_filename (g_getenv ("RUNTIME_DIRECTORY"),
-							 log,
-							 NULL);
-		} else {
-			target_fname = g_steal_pointer (&log);
-		}
-		file = g_file_new_for_commandline_arg (target_fname);
-		log_output = g_file_append_to (file, G_FILE_CREATE_NONE, NULL, &error);
-		if (log_output == NULL) {
-			g_printerr ("%s\n", error->message);
-			return EXIT_FAILURE;
-		}
-		g_set_print_handler (fu_util_log_output);
-	}
-
 	/* run the specified command */
 	ret = fu_util_cmd_array_run (cmd_array, priv, argv[1], (gchar**) &argv[2], &error);
 	if (!ret) {
@@ -2841,7 +2787,6 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	} else {
 		ret = EXIT_SUCCESS;
 	}
-	fu_util_close_log ();
 
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index f3747dca8..8140ddd38 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ fwupdtool = executable(
     'fu-debug.c',
     'fu-device-list.c',
     'fu-engine.c',
+    'fu-engine-helper.c',
     'fu-history.c',
     'fu-idle.c',
     'fu-install-task.c',
@@ -205,6 +206,7 @@ executable(
     'fu-debug.c',
     'fu-device-list.c',
     'fu-engine.c',
+    'fu-engine-helper.c',
     'fu-history.c',
     'fu-idle.c',
     'fu-install-task.c',
@@ -263,6 +265,7 @@ if get_option('tests')
       'fu-config.c',
       'fu-device-list.c',
       'fu-engine.c',
+      'fu-engine-helper.c',
       'fu-history.c',
       'fu-idle.c',
       'fu-install-task.c',