diff --git a/sbysrc/sby.py b/sbysrc/sby.py
index 8748ffe..b6dac82 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ jobcount = args.jobcount
 init_config_file = args.init_config_file
 status_show = args.status
 status_reset = args.status_reset
+status_live_csv = args.livecsv
 
 if status_show or status_reset:
     target = workdir_prefix or workdir or sbyfile
@@ -467,7 +468,7 @@ def start_task(taskloop, taskname):
     else:
         junit_filename = "junit"
 
-    task = SbyTask(sbyconfig, my_workdir, early_logmsgs, reusedir, taskloop, name=taskname)
+    task = SbyTask(sbyconfig, my_workdir, early_logmsgs, reusedir, taskloop, name=taskname, live_csv=status_live_csv)
 
     for k, v in exe_paths.items():
         task.exe_paths[k] = v
diff --git a/sbysrc/sby_cmdline.py b/sbysrc/sby_cmdline.py
index 812c0c5..cebbbdb 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby_cmdline.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby_cmdline.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ def parser_func(release_version='unknown SBY version'):
             help="maximum number of processes to run in parallel")
     parser.add_argument("--sequential", action="store_true", dest="sequential",
             help="run tasks in sequence, not in parallel")
+    parser.add_argument("--livecsv", action="store_true", dest="livecsv",
+            help="print live updates of property statuses during task execution in csv format")
 
     parser.add_argument("--autotune", action="store_true", dest="autotune",
             help="automatically find a well performing engine and engine configuration for each task")
diff --git a/sbysrc/sby_core.py b/sbysrc/sby_core.py
index 033d42d..2528ab6 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby_core.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby_core.py
@@ -825,13 +825,14 @@ class SbySummary:
 
 
 class SbyTask(SbyConfig):
-    def __init__(self, sbyconfig, workdir, early_logs, reusedir, taskloop=None, logfile=None, name=None):
+    def __init__(self, sbyconfig, workdir, early_logs, reusedir, taskloop=None, logfile=None, name=None, live_csv=False):
         super().__init__()
         self.used_options = set()
         self.models = dict()
         self.workdir = workdir
         self.reusedir = reusedir
         self.name = name
+        self.live_csv = live_csv
         self.status = "UNKNOWN"
         self.total_time = 0
         self.expect = list()
@@ -1321,7 +1322,7 @@ class SbyTask(SbyConfig):
             except FileNotFoundError:
                 status_path = f"{self.workdir}/status.sqlite"
 
-        self.status_db = SbyStatusDb(status_path, self)
+        self.status_db = SbyStatusDb(status_path, self, live_csv=self.live_csv)
 
     def setup_procs(self, setupmode):
         self.handle_non_engine_options()
diff --git a/sbysrc/sby_status.py b/sbysrc/sby_status.py
index f153510..6a6a24a 100644
--- a/sbysrc/sby_status.py
+++ b/sbysrc/sby_status.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import sqlite3
 import os
 import time
 import json
+import click
 import re
 from collections import defaultdict
 from functools import wraps
@@ -95,9 +96,10 @@ def transaction(method: Fn) -> Fn:
 
 
 class SbyStatusDb:
-    def __init__(self, path: Path, task, timeout: float = 5.0):
+    def __init__(self, path: Path, task, timeout: float = 5.0, live_csv = False):
         self.debug = False
         self.task = task
+        self.live_csv = live_csv
 
         self.con = sqlite3.connect(path, isolation_level=None, timeout=timeout)
         self.db = self.con.cursor()
@@ -238,7 +240,7 @@ class SbyStatusDb:
             ),
         )
 
-        if True:
+        if self.live_csv:
             csv = [
                 round(now - self.start_time, 2),
                 self.task.name,
@@ -249,7 +251,7 @@ class SbyStatusDb:
                 property.status,
                 data.get("step", "DEPTH?"),
             ]
-            self.task.log(f"csv: {','.join(str(v) for v in csv)}")
+            self.task.log(f"{click.style('csv', fg='yellow')}: {','.join(str(v) for v in csv)}")
 
     @transaction
     def add_task_property_data(self, property: SbyProperty, kind: str, data: Any):