diff --git a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
index 667ceba8..4134bb0c 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchain.py
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+# Note about printing:
+#   We try to print to stdout for results of a command that may be useful to
+#   someone (or another program). Strictly informational text, or errors,
+#   should be printed to stderr.
+
+
 def run_show_config(args):
     """Show the current configuration"""
     # TODO Proposal: remove the "hidden" configuration. Only show config. If
@@ -84,7 +90,7 @@ def run_configure(args, skip_if_exists=False):
 
     # select the correct config defaults based on the backend
     print('Generating default configuration for backend {}'
-          .format(args.backend))
+          .format(args.backend), file=sys.stderr)
     conf['database'] = bigchaindb._database_map[args.backend]
 
     if not args.yes:
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_commands.py b/tests/commands/test_commands.py
index 991f4961..95587e6c 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_commands.py
@@ -133,8 +133,10 @@ def test_bigchain_export_my_pubkey_when_pubkey_set(capsys, monkeypatch):
     run_export_my_pubkey(args)
     out, err = capsys.readouterr()
     lines = out.splitlines()
+    err_lines = err.splitlines()
     assert config['keypair']['public'] in lines
     assert 'Charlie_Bucket' in lines
+    assert 'bigchaindb args = {}'.format(args) in err_lines
 
 
 def test_bigchain_export_my_pubkey_when_pubkey_not_set(monkeypatch):