diff --git a/Documentation/config/advice.txt b/Documentation/config/advice.txt
index 0ba89898207f0c..4946a8aff8d694 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/advice.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config/advice.txt
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 advice.*::
 	These variables control various optional help messages designed to
-	aid new users.  When left unconfigured, Git will give the message
-	alongside instructions on how to squelch it.  You can tell Git
-	that you do not need the help message by setting these to `false`:
+	aid new users. These are only output to `stderr` when it is a
+	terminal.
++
+When left unconfigured, Git will give the message alongside instructions
+on how to squelch it.  You can tell Git that you do not need the help
+message by setting these to `false`:
 +
 --
 	addEmbeddedRepo::
diff --git a/advice.c b/advice.c
index 6b879d805c0304..05cf467b6800ba 100644
--- a/advice.c
+++ b/advice.c
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ int advice_enabled(enum advice_type type)
 	static int globally_enabled = -1;
 
 	if (globally_enabled < 0)
-		globally_enabled = git_env_bool(GIT_ADVICE_ENVIRONMENT, 1);
+		globally_enabled = git_env_bool(GIT_ADVICE_ENVIRONMENT, -1);
+	if (globally_enabled < 0)
+		globally_enabled = isatty(2);
 	if (!globally_enabled)
 		return 0;
 
diff --git a/t/t0018-advice.sh b/t/t0018-advice.sh
index fac52322a7f673..c63ef070a76d04 100755
--- a/t/t0018-advice.sh
+++ b/t/t0018-advice.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ export GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME
 TEST_PASSES_SANITIZE_LEAK=true
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-test_expect_success 'advice should be printed when config variable is unset' '
+test_expect_success TTY 'advice should be printed when config variable is unset' '
 	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
 	hint: This is a piece of advice
 	hint: Disable this message with "git config advice.nestedTag false"
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ test_expect_success 'advice should be printed when config variable is unset' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'advice should be printed when config variable is set to true' '
+test_expect_success TTY 'advice should be printed when config variable is set to true' '
 	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
 	hint: This is a piece of advice
 	EOF
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ test_expect_success 'advice should be printed when config variable is set to tru
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'advice should not be printed when config variable is set to false' '
+test_expect_success TTY 'advice should not be printed when config variable is set to false' '
 	test_config advice.nestedTag false &&
 	test-tool advise "This is a piece of advice" 2>actual &&
 	test_must_be_empty actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'advice should not be printed when --no-advice is used' '
+test_expect_success TTY 'advice should not be printed when --no-advice is used' '
 	q_to_tab >expect <<-\EOF &&
 	On branch trunk
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ test_expect_success 'advice should not be printed when --no-advice is used' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'advice should not be printed when GIT_ADVICE is set to false' '
+test_expect_success TTY 'advice should not be printed when GIT_ADVICE is set to false' '
 	q_to_tab >expect <<-\EOF &&
 	On branch trunk
 
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ test_expect_success 'advice should not be printed when GIT_ADVICE is set to fals
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+# This test also verifies that GIT_ADVICE=1 ignores the requirement
+# that stderr is a terminal.
 test_expect_success 'advice should be printed when GIT_ADVICE is set to true' '
 	q_to_tab >expect <<-\EOF &&
 	On branch trunk
@@ -99,4 +101,10 @@ test_expect_success 'advice should be printed when GIT_ADVICE is set to true' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'advice should not be printed when stderr is not a terminal' '
+	test_config advice.nestedTag true &&
+	test-tool advise "This is a piece of advice" 2>actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty actual
+'
+
 test_done