diff --git a/libs/kiplatform/CMakeLists.txt b/libs/kiplatform/CMakeLists.txt
index 3a19621b1e..791f965fee 100644
--- a/libs/kiplatform/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libs/kiplatform/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+option( KICAD_SHOW_GTK_MESSAGES
+    "Show all the GTK error messages in the terminal"
+    OFF )
+
+mark_as_advanced( KICAD_SHOW_GTK_MESSAGES )
+
+set( PLATFORM_COMPILE_DEFS "" )
+
 # Add the appropriate source files
 if( APPLE )
     set( PLATFORM_SRCS
@@ -40,6 +48,13 @@ elseif( UNIX )
     include_directories( SYSTEM ${GTK3_INCLUDE_DIRS} )
     link_directories( ${GTK3_LIBRARY_DIRS} )
     add_definitions( ${GTK3_CFLAGS_OTHER} )
+
+    # Add the definition to show the GTK error messages if desired (they are hidden
+    # by us by default)
+    if( KICAD_SHOW_GTK_MESSAGES )
+        message( STATUS "Configuring KiCad not to hide any GTK error messages" )
+        string( APPEND PLATFORM_COMPILE_DEFS "-DKICAD_SHOW_GTK_MESSAGES" )
+    endif()
 endif()
 
 
@@ -47,6 +62,10 @@ add_library( kiplatform STATIC
     ${PLATFORM_SRCS}
     )
 
+target_compile_definitions( kiplatform PRIVATE
+    ${PLATFORM_COMPILE_DEFS}
+    )
+
 target_include_directories( kiplatform PUBLIC
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include
     )
diff --git a/libs/kiplatform/gtk/app.cpp b/libs/kiplatform/gtk/app.cpp
index 76302bbcce..b51d88e26b 100644
--- a/libs/kiplatform/gtk/app.cpp
+++ b/libs/kiplatform/gtk/app.cpp
@@ -20,10 +20,23 @@
 
 #include <kiplatform/app.h>
 
+#include <glib.h>
+
 #include <wx/string.h>
 #include <wx/utils.h>
 
 
+/*
+ * Function to attach to the glib logger to eat the output it gives so we don't
+ * get the message spam on the terminal from wxWidget's abuse of the GTK API.
+ */
+static GLogWriterOutput nullLogWriter( GLogLevelFlags log_level, const GLogField* fields,
+                                       gsize n_fields, gpointer user_data )
+{
+    return G_LOG_WRITER_HANDLED;
+}
+
+
 bool KIPLATFORM::APP::PlatformInit()
 {
     // Disable proxy menu in Unity window manager. Only usual menubar works with
@@ -47,9 +60,15 @@ bool KIPLATFORM::APP::PlatformInit()
     // events.
     wxSetEnv( wxT( "GDK_CORE_DEVICE_EVENTS" ), wxT( "1" ) );
 
+#if !defined( KICAD_SHOW_GTK_MESSAGES )
+    // Attach a logger that will consume the annoying GTK error messages
+    g_log_set_writer_func( nullLogWriter, NULL, NULL );
+#endif
+
     return true;
 }
 
+
 bool KIPLATFORM::APP::RegisterApplicationRestart( const wxString& aCommandLine )
 {
     // Not implemented on this platform