diff --git a/cli/app/logs.go b/cli/app/logs.go
index 04dfed5f..1eff8335 100644
--- a/cli/app/logs.go
+++ b/cli/app/logs.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/cli/internal"
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/autocomplete"
 	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/client"
+	"coopcloud.tech/abra/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/filters"
 	dockerClient "github.com/docker/docker/client"
@@ -16,6 +17,15 @@ import (
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v2"
 )
 
+var logOpts = types.ContainerLogsOptions{
+	Details:    false,
+	Follow:     true,
+	ShowStderr: true,
+	ShowStdout: true,
+	Tail:       "20",
+	Timestamps: true,
+}
+
 // stackLogs lists logs for all stack services
 func stackLogs(c *cli.Context, stackName string, client *dockerClient.Client) {
 	filters := filters.NewArgs()
@@ -30,14 +40,10 @@ func stackLogs(c *cli.Context, stackName string, client *dockerClient.Client) {
 	for _, service := range services {
 		wg.Add(1)
 		go func(s string) {
-			logOpts := types.ContainerLogsOptions{
-				Details:    false,
-				Follow:     true,
-				ShowStderr: true,
-				ShowStdout: true,
-				Tail:       "20",
-				Timestamps: true,
+			if internal.StdErrOnly {
+				logOpts.ShowStdout = false
 			}
+
 			logs, err := client.ServiceLogs(c.Context, s, logOpts)
 			if err != nil {
 				logrus.Fatal(err)
@@ -60,6 +66,10 @@ var appLogsCommand = &cli.Command{
 	Aliases:   []string{"l"},
 	ArgsUsage: "[<service>]",
 	Usage:     "Tail app logs",
+	Flags: []cli.Flag{
+		internal.StdErrOnlyFlag,
+	},
+	BashComplete: autocomplete.AppNameComplete,
 	Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 		app := internal.ValidateApp(c)
 
@@ -70,44 +80,47 @@ var appLogsCommand = &cli.Command{
 
 		serviceName := c.Args().Get(1)
 		if serviceName == "" {
-			logrus.Debug("tailing logs for all app services")
+			logrus.Debugf("tailing logs for all %s services", app.Type)
 			stackLogs(c, app.StackName(), cl)
-		}
-		logrus.Debugf("tailing logs for '%s'", serviceName)
-
-		service := fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s", app.StackName(), serviceName)
-		filters := filters.NewArgs()
-		filters.Add("name", service)
-		serviceOpts := types.ServiceListOptions{Filters: filters}
-		services, err := cl.ServiceList(c.Context, serviceOpts)
-		if err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		if len(services) != 1 {
-			logrus.Fatalf("expected 1 service but got %v", len(services))
-		}
-
-		logOpts := types.ContainerLogsOptions{
-			Details:    false,
-			Follow:     true,
-			ShowStderr: true,
-			ShowStdout: true,
-			Tail:       "20",
-			Timestamps: true,
-		}
-		logs, err := cl.ServiceLogs(c.Context, services[0].ID, logOpts)
-		if err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		// defer after err check as any err returns a nil io.ReadCloser
-		defer logs.Close()
-
-		_, err = io.Copy(os.Stdout, logs)
-		if err != nil && err != io.EOF {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
+		} else {
+			logrus.Debugf("tailing logs for %s", serviceName)
+			if err := tailServiceLogs; err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
+			}
 		}
 
 		return nil
 	},
-	BashComplete: autocomplete.AppNameComplete,
+}
+
+func tailServiceLogs(c *cli.Context, cl *dockerClient.Client, app config.App, serviceName string) error {
+	service := fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s", app.StackName(), serviceName)
+	filters := filters.NewArgs()
+	filters.Add("name", service)
+	serviceOpts := types.ServiceListOptions{Filters: filters}
+	services, err := cl.ServiceList(c.Context, serviceOpts)
+	if err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(services) != 1 {
+		logrus.Fatalf("expected 1 service but got %v", len(services))
+	}
+
+	if internal.StdErrOnly {
+		logOpts.ShowStdout = false
+	}
+
+	logs, err := cl.ServiceLogs(c.Context, services[0].ID, logOpts)
+	if err != nil {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// defer after err check as any err returns a nil io.ReadCloser
+	defer logs.Close()
+
+	_, err = io.Copy(os.Stdout, logs)
+	if err != nil && err != io.EOF {
+		logrus.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cli/internal/common.go b/cli/internal/common.go
index dd786993..26480110 100644
--- a/cli/internal/common.go
+++ b/cli/internal/common.go
@@ -401,6 +401,15 @@ var NoDomainChecksFlag = &cli.BoolFlag{
 	Destination: &NoDomainChecks,
 }
 
+var StdErrOnly bool
+var StdErrOnlyFlag = &cli.BoolFlag{
+	Name:        "stderr",
+	Aliases:     []string{"s"},
+	Value:       false,
+	Usage:       "Only tail stderr",
+	Destination: &StdErrOnly,
+}
+
 // SSHFailMsg is a hopefully helpful SSH failure message
 var SSHFailMsg = `
 Woops, Abra is unable to connect to connect to %s.