diff --git a/tqdm.py b/tqdm.py
index d817f4d4..8e4851f7 100644
--- a/tqdm.py
+++ b/tqdm.py
@@ -39,15 +39,16 @@ def format_meter(n, total, elapsed):
         return '%d [elapsed: %s, %s iters/sec]' % (n, elapsed_str, rate)
 
 class StatusPrinter(object):
-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self, output_to=sys.stdout):
+        self.output_to = output_to
         self.last_printed_len = 0
     
     def print_status(self, s):
-        sys.stdout.write('\r'+s+' '*max(self.last_printed_len-len(s), 0))
-        sys.stdout.flush()
+        self.output_to.write('\r'+s+' '*max(self.last_printed_len-len(s), 0))
+        self.output_to.flush()
         self.last_printed_len = len(s)
 
-def tqdm(iterable, desc='', total=None, leave=False, mininterval=0.5, miniters=1):
+def tqdm(iterable, desc='', total=None, leave=False, mininterval=0.5, miniters=1, output_to=sys.stdout):
     """
     Get an iterable object, and return an iterator which acts exactly like the
     iterable, but prints a progress meter and updates it every time a value is
@@ -60,6 +61,8 @@ def tqdm(iterable, desc='', total=None, leave=False, mininterval=0.5, miniters=1
     iterating over all elements.
     If less than mininterval seconds or miniters iterations have passed since
     the last progress meter update, it is not updated again.
+    'output_to' can be a file-like object to output the progress message to
+    If not specified, prints to sys.stdout.
     """
     if total is None:
         try:
@@ -69,7 +72,7 @@ def tqdm(iterable, desc='', total=None, leave=False, mininterval=0.5, miniters=1
 
     prefix = desc+': ' if desc else ''
     
-    sp = StatusPrinter()
+    sp = StatusPrinter(output_to)
     sp.print_status(prefix + format_meter(0, total, 0))
         
     start_t = last_print_t = time.time()