diff --git a/doc/soju.1.scd b/doc/soju.1.scd
index 0c09255..4b7a7de 100644
--- a/doc/soju.1.scd
+++ b/doc/soju.1.scd
@@ -283,6 +283,13 @@ abbreviated form, for instance *network* can be abbreviated as *net* or just
 
 	Options are:
 
+	*-detached* true|false
+		Attach or detach this channel.
+
+		A detached channel is joined but is hidden by the bouncer. This is
+		useful to e.g. collect logs and highlights in low-interest or
+		high-traffic channels.
+
 	*-relay-detached* <mode>
 		Set when to relay messages from detached channels to the user with a BouncerServ NOTICE.
 
diff --git a/service.go b/service.go
index feba0fa..689555f 100644
--- a/service.go
+++ b/service.go
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ func init() {
 					handle: handleServiceChannelStatus,
 				},
 				"update": {
-					usage:  "<name> [-relay-detached <default|none|highlight|message>] [-reattach-on <default|none|highlight|message>] [-detach-after <duration>] [-detach-on <default|none|highlight|message>]",
+					usage:  "<name> [-detached <true|false>] [-relay-detached <default|none|highlight|message>] [-reattach-on <default|none|highlight|message>] [-detach-after <duration>] [-detach-on <default|none|highlight|message>]",
 					desc:   "update a channel",
 					handle: handleServiceChannelUpdate,
 				},
@@ -1048,11 +1048,13 @@ func parseFilter(filter string) (database.MessageFilter, error) {
 
 type channelFlagSet struct {
 	*flag.FlagSet
+	Detached                                         *bool
 	RelayDetached, ReattachOn, DetachAfter, DetachOn *string
 }
 
 func newChannelFlagSet() *channelFlagSet {
 	fs := &channelFlagSet{FlagSet: newFlagSet()}
+	fs.Var(boolPtrFlag{&fs.Detached}, "detached", "")
 	fs.Var(stringPtrFlag{&fs.RelayDetached}, "relay-detached", "")
 	fs.Var(stringPtrFlag{&fs.ReattachOn}, "reattach-on", "")
 	fs.Var(stringPtrFlag{&fs.DetachAfter}, "detach-after", "")
@@ -1117,6 +1119,14 @@ func handleServiceChannelUpdate(ctx context.Context, dc *downstreamConn, params
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if fs.Detached != nil && *fs.Detached != ch.Detached {
+		if *fs.Detached {
+			uc.network.detach(ch)
+		} else {
+			uc.network.attach(ctx, ch)
+		}
+	}
+
 	uc.updateChannelAutoDetach(upstreamName)
 
 	if err := dc.srv.db.StoreChannel(ctx, uc.network.ID, ch); err != nil {