diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index af2fb77b..88c23c3e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ This extension provides several commands in the Command Palette (<kbd>F1</kbd> o
 | `arduino.commandPath` | Path to an executable (or script) relative to `arduino.path`. The default value is `arduino_debug.exe` for Windows, `Contents/MacOS/Arduino` for Mac and `arduino` for Linux, You also can use a custom launch script to run Arduino by modifying this setting. (Requires a restart after change) Example: `run-arduino.bat` for Windows, `Contents/MacOS/run-arduino.sh` for Mac and `bin/run-arduino.sh` for Linux. |
 | `arduino.additionalUrls` | Additional Boards Manager URLs for 3rd party packages. You can have multiple URLs in one string with a comma(`,`) as separator, or have a string array. The default value is empty. |
 | `arduino.logLevel` | CLI output log level. Could be info or verbose. The default value is `"info"`. |
-| `arduino.allowPDEFiletype` | Allow the VSCode Arduino extension to open .pde files from pre-1.0.0 versions of Arduino. Note that this will break Processing code. Default value is `false`. |
+| `arduino.clearOutputOnBuild` | Clear the output logs before uploading or verifying. Default value is `false`. |
+| `arduino.allowPDEFiletype` | Allow the VSCode Arduino extension to open .pde files from pre-1.0.0 versions of Arduino. Note that this will break Processing code. Default value is `false`. | 
 | `arduino.enableUSBDetection` | Enable/disable USB detection from the VSCode Arduino extension. The default value is `true`. When your device is plugged in to your computer, it will pop up a message "`Detected board ****, Would you like to switch to this board type`". After clicking the `Yes` button, it will automatically detect which serial port (COM) is connected a USB device. If your device does not support this feature, please provide us with the PID/VID of your device; the code format is defined in `misc/usbmapping.json`.To learn more about how to list the vid/pid, use the following tools: https://github.com/EmergingTechnologyAdvisors/node-serialport `npm install -g serialport` `serialport-list -f jsonline`|
 | `arduino.disableTestingOpen` | Enable/disable automatic sending of a test message to the serial port for checking the open status. The default value is `false` (a test message will be sent). |
 | `arduino.skipHeaderProvider` | Enable/disable the extension providing completion items for headers. This functionality is included in newer versions of the C++ extension. The default value is `false`.|
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c677c34a..06d42122 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -496,6 +496,11 @@
             "verbose"
           ]
         },
+        "arduino.clearOutputOnBuild": {
+          "type": "boolean",
+          "default": false,
+          "description": "Clear the output logs before uploading or verifying."
+        },
         "arduino.openPDEFiletype": {
           "type": "boolean",
           "default": false,
diff --git a/src/arduino/arduino.ts b/src/arduino/arduino.ts
index 97112f2e..ca60eb73 100644
--- a/src/arduino/arduino.ts
+++ b/src/arduino/arduino.ts
@@ -650,6 +650,9 @@ export class ArduinoApp {
         // we prepare the channel here since all following code will
         // or at leas can possibly output to it
         arduinoChannel.show();
+        if (VscodeSettings.getInstance().clearOutputOnBuild) {
+            arduinoChannel.clear();
+        }
         arduinoChannel.start(`${buildMode} sketch '${dc.sketch}'`);
 
         if (buildDir || dc.output) {
diff --git a/src/arduino/vscodeSettings.ts b/src/arduino/vscodeSettings.ts
index 74f7bedb..ce512189 100644
--- a/src/arduino/vscodeSettings.ts
+++ b/src/arduino/vscodeSettings.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const configKeys = {
     ARDUINO_COMMAND_PATH: "arduino.commandPath",
     ADDITIONAL_URLS: "arduino.additionalUrls",
     LOG_LEVEL: "arduino.logLevel",
+    CLEAR_OUTPUT_ON_START: "arduino.clearOutputOnBuild",
     AUTO_UPDATE_INDEX_FILES: "arduino.autoUpdateIndexFiles",
     ALLOW_PDE_FILETYPE: "arduino.allowPDEFiletype",
     ENABLE_USB_DETECTION: "arduino.enableUSBDetection",
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ export interface IVscodeSettings {
     commandPath: string;
     additionalUrls: string | string[];
     logLevel: string;
+    clearOutputOnBuild: boolean;
     allowPDEFiletype: boolean;
     enableUSBDetection: boolean;
     disableTestingOpen: boolean;
@@ -63,6 +65,10 @@ export class VscodeSettings implements IVscodeSettings {
         return this.getConfigValue<string>(configKeys.LOG_LEVEL) || "info";
     }
 
+    public get clearOutputOnBuild(): boolean {
+        return this.getConfigValue<boolean>(configKeys.CLEAR_OUTPUT_ON_START);
+    }
+
     public get allowPDEFiletype(): boolean {
         return this.getConfigValue<boolean>(configKeys.ALLOW_PDE_FILETYPE);
     }
diff --git a/src/common/outputChannel.ts b/src/common/outputChannel.ts
index cb0db494..2399c551 100644
--- a/src/common/outputChannel.ts
+++ b/src/common/outputChannel.ts
@@ -33,4 +33,8 @@ export const arduinoChannel = {
     hide() {
         this.channel.hide();
     },
+
+    clear() {
+        this.channel.clear();
+    },
 };