diff --git a/src/simulator/main.cpp b/src/simulator/main.cpp
index 66fbf903..2e458350 100644
--- a/src/simulator/main.cpp
+++ b/src/simulator/main.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ int sc_main(int argc, char **argv)
         SC_REPORT_FATAL("Simulator", "No traffic initiators specified");
 
     std::unique_ptr<DRAMSys::DRAMSys> dramSys;
-    if (configuration.simconfig.DatabaseRecording)
+    if (configuration.simconfig.DatabaseRecording.value_or(false))
     {
         dramSys = std::make_unique<DRAMSys::DRAMSysRecordable>("DRAMSys", configuration);
     }
@@ -100,10 +100,12 @@ int sc_main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     uint64_t totalTransactions{};
     uint64_t transactionsFinished = 0;
-    auto transactionFinished = [&totalTransactions, &transactionsFinished]()
+    auto transactionFinished = [&totalTransactions, &transactionsFinished, &configuration]()
     {
         transactionsFinished++;
-        loadBar(transactionsFinished, totalTransactions);
+
+        if (configuration.simconfig.SimulationProgressBar.value_or(false))
+            loadBar(transactionsFinished, totalTransactions);
     };
 
     for (auto const &initiator_config : configuration.tracesetup.value())