diff --git a/bin/cylc-cat-log b/bin/cylc-cat-log
index 287f5936207..7e53add0f9d 100755
--- a/bin/cylc-cat-log
+++ b/bin/cylc-cat-log
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 
 """cylc [info] cat-log|log [OPTIONS] ARGS
 
-Print, edit, or tail-follow content, or print path or list directory, of local
-or remote task job logs and suite server logs. Batch-system-specific job cat or
-tail commands are used if defined in global config.
+Cat (print), edit, or tail-follow content, or print path or list directory, of
+local or remote task job logs and suite server logs. Batch-system view commands
+(e.g. 'qcat') are used if defined in global config and the job is running.
 
 For standard log types use the short-cut option argument or full filename (e.g.
 for job stdout "-f o" or "-f job.out" will do).
@@ -28,9 +28,13 @@ for job stdout "-f o" or "-f job.out" will do).
 To list the local job log directory of a remote task, choose "-m l" (directory
 list mode) and a local file, e.g. "-f a" (job-activity.log).
 
-Custom job logs are assumed to reside on the job host. These will be available
-to view from the GUI if listed in 'extra log files' in the suite definition.
-Here the file name must be given (but it can be discovered with list-dir mode).
+If remote job logs are retrieved to the suite host on completion (global config
+'[JOB-HOST]retrieve job logs = True') and the job is not currently running, the
+local (retrieved) log will be accessed unless '-o/--force-remote' is used.
+
+Custom job logs (written to $CYLC_TASK_LOG_ROOT on the job host) are available
+from the GUI if listed in 'extra log files' in the suite definition. The file
+name must be given here, but can be discovered with '--mode=l' (list-dir).
 
 The correct cycle point format of the suite must be for task job logs.
 
@@ -195,6 +199,12 @@ def get_option_parser():
         "next oldest, etc.",
         metavar="INT", action="store", dest="rotation_num")
 
+    parser.add_option(
+        "-o", "--force-remote",
+        help="View remote logs remotely even if they have been retrieved"
+        " to the suite host (default False).",
+        action="store_true", default=False, dest="force_remote")
+
     parser.add_option(
         "-s", "--submit-number", "-t", "--try-number",
         help="Job submit number (default=%s, i.e. latest)." % NN,
@@ -351,8 +361,8 @@ def main():
         user, host = split_user_at_host(user_at_host)
         batchview_cmd = None
         if live_job_id is not None:
-            # Get special batch system log viewer command (e.g. qcat) if one
-            # exists, the log is out or err, and the job is live.
+            # Job is currently running. Get special batch system log view
+            # command (e.g. qcat) if one exists, and the log is out or err.
             conf_key = None
             if options.filename == JOB_LOG_OUT:
                 if options.mode == 'c':
@@ -374,8 +384,12 @@ def main():
                 if batchview_cmd_tmpl is not None:
                     batchview_cmd = batchview_cmd_tmpl % {
                         "job_id": str(live_job_id)}
-        pout = None
-        if is_remote(user, host) and (options.filename not in JOB_LOGS_LOCAL):
+
+        log_is_remote = (is_remote(user, host)
+                         and (options.filename not in JOB_LOGS_LOCAL))
+        log_is_retrieved = (glbl_cfg().get_host_item('retrieve job logs', host)
+                            and live_job_id is None)
+        if log_is_remote and (not log_is_retrieved or options.force_remote):
             logpath = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(
                 glbl_cfg().get_derived_host_item(
                     suite_name, "suite job log directory", host, user),