diff --git a/src/kleopatraapplication.cpp b/src/kleopatraapplication.cpp
--- a/src/kleopatraapplication.cpp
+++ b/src/kleopatraapplication.cpp
@@ -188,6 +188,9 @@
         if (logAll || options.contains("io")) {
             log->setIOLoggingEnabled(true);
         }
+        if (options.contains("timestamp")) {
+            log->setTimestampEnabled(true);
+        }
         qInstallMessageHandler(Log::messageHandler);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_USABLE_ASSUAN
diff --git a/src/utils/log.h b/src/utils/log.h
--- a/src/utils/log.h
+++ b/src/utils/log.h
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@
     bool ioLoggingEnabled() const;
     void setIOLoggingEnabled(bool enabled);
 
+    bool isTimestampEnabled() const;
+    void setTimestampEnabled(bool enabled);
+
     QString outputDirectory() const;
     void setOutputDirectory(const QString &path);
 
diff --git a/src/utils/log.cpp b/src/utils/log.cpp
--- a/src/utils/log.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/log.cpp
@@ -69,9 +69,8 @@
 
 void Log::messageHandler(QtMsgType type, const QMessageLogContext &ctx, const QString& msg)
 {
-    Q_UNUSED(type)
-    Q_UNUSED(ctx)
-    const QByteArray local8str = msg.toLocal8Bit();
+    const QString formattedMessage = qFormatLogMessage(type, ctx, msg);
+    const QByteArray local8str = formattedMessage.toLocal8Bit();
     FILE *const file = Log::instance()->logFile();
     if (!file) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Log::messageHandler[!file]: %s", local8str.constData());