diff --git a/src/main/java/org/scijava/AbstractGateway.java b/src/main/java/org/scijava/AbstractGateway.java
index 0b55b646d..166aac342 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/scijava/AbstractGateway.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/scijava/AbstractGateway.java
@@ -98,7 +98,8 @@ public void launch(final String... args) {
 		final int mainCount = main().execMains();
 
 		// display the user interface (NB: does not block)
-		if (mainCount == 0 && !ui().isHeadless()) ui().showUI();
+		// NB: When running headless, the HeadlessUI will be used.
+		if (mainCount == 0) ui().showUI();
 
 		if (ui().isHeadless()) {
 			// now that CLI processing/execution is done, we can shut down
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/DefaultUIService.java b/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/DefaultUIService.java
index 66f81401c..dfde08f9d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/DefaultUIService.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/DefaultUIService.java
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 import org.scijava.ui.DialogPrompt.OptionType;
 import org.scijava.ui.DialogPrompt.Result;
 import org.scijava.ui.event.UIShownEvent;
-import org.scijava.ui.headlessUI.HeadlessUI;
+import org.scijava.ui.headless.HeadlessUI;
 import org.scijava.ui.viewer.DisplayViewer;
 
 /**
@@ -176,7 +176,6 @@ public boolean isVisible(final String name) {
 		return ui.isVisible();
 	}
 
-
 	@Override
 	public void setHeadless(final boolean headless) {
 		System.setProperty("java.awt.headless", String.valueOf(headless));
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headless/HeadlessDisplayViewer.java b/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headless/HeadlessDisplayViewer.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..407667f04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headless/HeadlessDisplayViewer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * #%L
+ * SciJava Common shared library for SciJava software.
+ * %%
+ * Copyright (C) 2009 - 2016 Board of Regents of the University of
+ * Wisconsin-Madison, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Max Planck
+ * Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics.
+ * %%
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ * 
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+ *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+ *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+ *    and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ * 
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+ * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+ * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+ * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+ * SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+ * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ * CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+ * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ * #L%
+ */
+
+package org.scijava.ui.headless;
+
+import org.scijava.display.Display;
+import org.scijava.plugin.Plugin;
+import org.scijava.ui.UserInterface;
+import org.scijava.ui.viewer.AbstractDisplayViewer;
+import org.scijava.ui.viewer.DisplayViewer;
+import org.scijava.ui.viewer.DisplayWindow;
+import org.scijava.util.ListUtils;
+
+/**
+ * A display viewer used when running headless.
+ * 
+ * @author Curtis Rueden
+ */
+@Plugin(type = DisplayViewer.class)
+public class HeadlessDisplayViewer extends AbstractDisplayViewer<Object> {
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean isCompatible(final UserInterface ui) {
+		return ui instanceof HeadlessUI;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void view(final DisplayWindow w, final Display<?> d) {
+		if (log() == null) return;
+		log().info(d.getName() + " = " + ListUtils.string(d, false));
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean canView(Display<?> d) {
+		return true;
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headless/HeadlessUI.java b/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headless/HeadlessUI.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..621661af6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headless/HeadlessUI.java
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+/*-
+ * #%L
+ * SciJava Common shared library for SciJava software.
+ * %%
+ * Copyright (C) 2009 - 2016 Board of Regents of the University of
+ * Wisconsin-Madison, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Max Planck
+ * Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics.
+ * %%
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ *
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+ *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+ *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+ *    and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+ * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+ * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+ * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+ * SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+ * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ * CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+ * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ * #L%
+ */
+
+package org.scijava.ui.headless;
+
+import java.io.File;
+
+import org.scijava.Priority;
+import org.scijava.display.Display;
+import org.scijava.log.LogService;
+import org.scijava.plugin.AbstractRichPlugin;
+import org.scijava.plugin.Plugin;
+import org.scijava.ui.DialogPrompt;
+import org.scijava.ui.UserInterface;
+import org.scijava.ui.viewer.DisplayWindow;
+import org.scijava.util.ListUtils;
+
+/**
+ * A no-op user interface used when the application is running headless.
+ * <p>
+ * Most operations do nothing. Attempting to show an object via one of the
+ * {@link #show} methods logs the object via the {@link LogService}.
+ * </p>
+ *
+ * @author Richard Domander (Royal Veterinary College, London)
+ * @author Curtis Rueden
+ */
+@Plugin(type = UserInterface.class, name = HeadlessUI.NAME,
+	priority = Priority.VERY_LOW_PRIORITY)
+public class HeadlessUI extends AbstractRichPlugin implements UserInterface {
+
+	public static final String NAME = "headless";
+
+	private boolean visible;
+
+	@Override
+	public void show() {
+		visible = true;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean isVisible() {
+		return visible;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void show(final String name, final Object o) {
+		// NB: Rather than creating a Display, let's just log it.
+		log().info(name + " = " + o);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void show(final Display<?> display) {
+		// NB: Rather than looking for a DisplayViewer, let's just log it.
+		log().info(display.getName() + " = " + ListUtils.string(display, false));
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public DisplayWindow createDisplayWindow(final Display<?> display) {
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public DialogPrompt dialogPrompt(final String message, final String title,
+		final DialogPrompt.MessageType messageType,
+		final DialogPrompt.OptionType optionType)
+	{
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public File chooseFile(final String title, final File file,
+		final String style)
+	{
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void showContextMenu(final String menuRoot, final Display<?> display,
+		final int x, final int y)
+	{}
+
+	@Override
+	public void saveLocation() {}
+
+	@Override
+	public void restoreLocation() {}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean requiresEDT() {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void dispose() {}
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headlessUI/HeadlessUI.java b/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headlessUI/HeadlessUI.java
index 167e4e5ed..282380bfb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headlessUI/HeadlessUI.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/scijava/ui/headlessUI/HeadlessUI.java
@@ -31,79 +31,15 @@
 
 package org.scijava.ui.headlessUI;
 
-import java.io.File;
-
-import org.scijava.Priority;
-import org.scijava.display.Display;
-import org.scijava.plugin.AbstractRichPlugin;
-import org.scijava.plugin.Plugin;
-import org.scijava.ui.DialogPrompt;
-import org.scijava.ui.UserInterface;
-import org.scijava.ui.viewer.DisplayWindow;
-
-/**
- * A "null object" UI implementation that can be returned when a UIService is
- * running headless
- *
- * @author Richard Domander (Royal Veterinary College, London)
- * @author Curtis Rueden
- */
-@Plugin(type = UserInterface.class, name = HeadlessUI.NAME,
-	priority = Priority.VERY_LOW_PRIORITY)
-public class HeadlessUI extends AbstractRichPlugin implements UserInterface {
-
+/** @deprecated Use {@link org.scijava.ui.headless.HeadlessUI} instead. */
+@Deprecated
+public class HeadlessUI extends org.scijava.ui.headless.HeadlessUI {
+
+	/**
+	 * @deprecated Use {@link org.scijava.ui.headless.HeadlessUI#NAME} instead.
+	 */
+	@Deprecated
+	@SuppressWarnings("hiding")
 	public static final String NAME = "headless";
 
-	@Override
-	public void show() {}
-
-	@Override
-	public boolean isVisible() {
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void show(final String name, final Object o) {}
-
-	@Override
-	public void show(final Display<?> display) {}
-
-	@Override
-	public DisplayWindow createDisplayWindow(final Display<?> display) {
-		return null;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public DialogPrompt dialogPrompt(final String message, final String title,
-		final DialogPrompt.MessageType messageType,
-		final DialogPrompt.OptionType optionType)
-	{
-		return null;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public File chooseFile(final String title, final File file,
-		final String style)
-	{
-		return null;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void showContextMenu(final String menuRoot, final Display<?> display,
-		final int x, final int y)
-	{}
-
-	@Override
-	public void saveLocation() {}
-
-	@Override
-	public void restoreLocation() {}
-
-	@Override
-	public boolean requiresEDT() {
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void dispose() {}
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/scijava/util/ListUtils.java b/src/main/java/org/scijava/util/ListUtils.java
index 33e8c7985..f71fca9ce 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/scijava/util/ListUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/scijava/util/ListUtils.java
@@ -53,4 +53,69 @@ public static <T> T first(final List<T> list) {
 		return list.get(0);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Converts the given list to a string.
+	 * <p>
+	 * The list elements will be separated by a comma then a space. The list will
+	 * be enclosed in square brackets.
+	 * </p>
+	 * 
+	 * @param list The list to stringify.
+	 * @see #string(List, String, String, String, boolean)
+	 */
+	public static String string(final List<?> list) {
+		return string(list, true);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Converts the given list to a string.
+	 * <p>
+	 * The list elements will be separated by a comma then a space. The list will
+	 * be enclosed in square brackets unless it is a singleton with the
+	 * {@code encloseSingletons} flag set to false.
+	 * </p>
+	 * 
+	 * @param list The list to stringify.
+	 * @param encloseSingletons Whether to enclose singleton lists in brackets.
+	 * @return The stringified list.
+	 * @see #string(List, String, String, String, boolean)
+	 */
+	public static String string(final List<?> list,
+		final boolean encloseSingletons)
+	{
+		return string(list, "[", "]", ", ", encloseSingletons);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Converts the given list to a string.
+	 * <p>
+	 * The list elements will be comma-separated. It will be enclosed in square
+	 * brackets unless the list is a singleton with the {@code encloseSingletons}
+	 * flag set to false.
+	 * </p>
+	 * 
+	 * @param list The list to stringify.
+	 * @param lDelimiter The left-hand symbol(s) in which to enclose the list.
+	 * @param rDelimiter The right-hand symbol(s) in which to enclose the list.
+	 * @param separator The symbol(s) to place in between each element.
+	 * @param encloseSingletons Whether to enclose singleton lists inside the
+	 *          delimiter symbols.
+	 * @return The stringified list.
+	 */
+	public static String string(final List<?> list, //
+		final String lDelimiter, final String rDelimiter, //
+		final String separator, final boolean encloseSingletons)
+	{
+		final boolean delimit = encloseSingletons || list.size() != 1;
+		final StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
+		if (delimit) sb.append(lDelimiter);
+		boolean first = true;
+		for (final Object e : list) {
+			if (first) first = false;
+			else sb.append(separator);
+			sb.append(e);
+		}
+		if (delimit) sb.append(rDelimiter);
+		return sb.toString();
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/scijava/ui/UIServiceTest.java b/src/test/java/org/scijava/ui/UIServiceTest.java
index aef87bd99..716a2a846 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/scijava/ui/UIServiceTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/scijava/ui/UIServiceTest.java
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.scijava.Context;
 import org.scijava.display.Display;
-import org.scijava.ui.headlessUI.HeadlessUI;
+import org.scijava.ui.headless.HeadlessUI;
 import org.scijava.ui.viewer.DisplayWindow;
 
 /**