diff --git a/artiq/frontend/aqctl_corelog.py b/artiq/frontend/aqctl_corelog.py
index 9df2c3a8d..c93908de8 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/aqctl_corelog.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/aqctl_corelog.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ def get_argparser():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="ARTIQ controller for core device logs")
     simple_network_args(parser, 1068)
+    parser.add_argument("--simulation", action="store_true",
+                        help="Simulation - does not connect to device")
     parser.add_argument("core_addr", metavar="CORE_ADDR",
                         help="hostname or IP address of the core device")
     return parser
@@ -26,6 +28,12 @@ class PingTarget:
         return True
 
 
+async def get_logs_sim(host):
+    while True:
+        await asyncio.sleep(2)
+        log_with_name("firmware.simulation", logging.INFO, "hello " + host)
+
+
 async def get_logs(host):
     reader, writer = await asyncio.open_connection(host, 1380)
     writer.write(b"ARTIQ management\n")
@@ -59,7 +67,8 @@ def main():
 
     loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
     try:
-        get_logs_task = asyncio.ensure_future(get_logs(args.core_addr))
+        get_logs_task = asyncio.ensure_future(
+            get_logs_sim(args.core_addr) if args.simulation else get_logs(args.core_addr))
         try:
             server = Server({"corelog": PingTarget()}, None, True)
             loop.run_until_complete(server.start(bind_address_from_args(args), args.port))