diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d1ee265..d18dcee 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 
 ## 6.0.0-dev
 
+- Added `--dry` option to process images without writing output files.
+- Removed `jpg` output format alias; use `jpeg` instead.
 - Internal refactor from CommonJS to ESM.
 - Updated `sharp` dependency to 0.35.3.
 - Updated dependencies.
 - Requires Node.js 20.10.
-- Removed `jpg` output format alias; use `jpeg` instead.
 
 ## 5.3.0 (August 13, 2026)
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1aa3cc8..d09b495 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ Commands:
                                                pixel values made fully transparent
 
 Global Options
+      --dry      Process images without writing output files                               [boolean]
   -i, --input    Path to (an) image file(s)                      [array] [required] [default: stdin]
   -o, --output   Directory or URI template to write the image files to
                                                                [string] [required] [default: stdout]
diff --git a/lib/cli.js b/lib/cli.js
index c755848..ea27439 100644
--- a/lib/cli.js
+++ b/lib/cli.js
@@ -78,6 +78,13 @@ const optimize = "Optimization Options";
 const output = "Output Options";
 
 const globalOptions = {
+  dry: {
+    alias: "n",
+    desc: "Process images without writing output files",
+    group: global,
+    type: "boolean",
+  },
+
   // @see https://sharp.pixelplumbing.com/api-constructor/
   input: {
     alias: "i",
diff --git a/lib/convert.js b/lib/convert.js
index 2c3b3cc..6184ea3 100644
--- a/lib/convert.js
+++ b/lib/convert.js
@@ -104,9 +104,15 @@ export default {
             format,
             metadata,
           });
+
+          if (context.dry) {
+            return transformer
+              .toBuffer({ resolveWithObject: true })
+              .then(({ info }) => Object.assign({}, info, { path: dest }));
+          }
           return transformer
             .toFile(dest)
-            .then((info) => Object.assign(info, { src, path: dest }));
+            .then((info) => Object.assign({}, info, { path: dest }));
         });
     });
     return Promise.all(promises);
@@ -123,6 +129,12 @@ export default {
           metadata,
         });
 
+        if (context.dry) {
+          return transformer
+            .toBuffer({ resolveWithObject: true })
+            .then(({ info }) => info);
+        }
+
         // Gather return value.
         const info = {};
         transformer.on("info", (_info) => Object.assign(info, _info));
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index da5a61c..87585b0 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export default (args, options = {}) => {
     .parseAsync(args)
     .then((argv) => {
       const context = {
+        dry: argv.dry,
         format: argv.format,
         options: pick(argv, Object.keys(inputOptions)),
         queue: argv["#queue"],
diff --git a/test/cli.js b/test/cli.js
index d519024..fc89435 100644
--- a/test/cli.js
+++ b/test/cli.js
@@ -820,6 +820,16 @@ describe(`${pkg.name} <options> [command..]`, () => {
       });
     });
 
+    describe("--dry", () => {
+      // Run.
+      before(() => cli.parseAsync(["--dry", ...ioFlags]));
+
+      // Tests.
+      it("must set the dry flag", () => {
+        expect(cli.parsed.argv).to.have.property("dry", true);
+      });
+    });
+
     describe("--overshootDeringing", () => {
       // Run.
       before(() => cli.parseAsync(["--overshootDeringing", ...ioFlags]));
diff --git a/test/convert.js b/test/convert.js
index adad603..3b72f71 100644
--- a/test/convert.js
+++ b/test/convert.js
@@ -72,6 +72,16 @@ describe("convert", () => {
           expect(info.path).to.contain(".avif");
         });
     });
+    it("must not write a file during a dry run", () => {
+      const dryDest = path.join(dest, "dry.jpg");
+      const context = { ...createContext(), dry: true };
+      return convert.files([input], dryDest, context).then(([info]) => {
+        expect(info).to.have.property("format", "jpeg");
+        expect(info).to.have.property("size");
+        expect(info.path).to.equal(dryDest);
+        expect(fs.existsSync(dryDest)).to.be.false();
+      });
+    });
     it("must pass the output extension format to queued handlers", () => {
       const context = createContext();
       let format;
@@ -185,5 +195,21 @@ describe("convert", () => {
         })
         .catch((err) => expect(err).to.equal(error));
     });
+    it("must not write to the output stream during a dry run", () => {
+      const failingOutput = new Writable({
+        write(_chunk, _encoding, callback) {
+          callback(new Error("should not write output"));
+        },
+      });
+      return convert
+        .stream(fs.createReadStream(input), failingOutput, {
+          ...createContext(),
+          dry: true,
+        })
+        .then((info) => {
+          expect(info).to.have.property("format", "jpeg");
+          expect(info).to.have.property("size");
+        });
+    });
   });
 });