diff --git a/nose/config.py b/nose/config.py
index ccecf67..eb047a4 100644
--- a/nose/config.py
+++ b/nose/config.py
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kw):
         self.debug = env.get('NOSE_DEBUG')
         self.debugLog = env.get('NOSE_DEBUG_LOG')
         self.logPropagate = bool(env.get('NOSE_LOG_PROPAGATE', False))
+        self.logNoLogHandlers = bool(env.get('NOSE_NO_LOG_HANDLERS', False))
         self.exclude = None
         self.getTestCaseNamesCompat = False
         self.includeExe = env.get('NOSE_INCLUDE_EXE',
@@ -389,6 +390,9 @@ def configureLogging(self):
         if not found:
             logger.addHandler(handler)
 
+        if self.logNoLogHandlers:
+            logger.handlers = []
+
         # default level
         lvl = logging.WARNING
         if self.verbosity >= 5: