diff --git a/src/logging/virtlogd.service.in b/src/logging/virtlogd.service.in
index 158124e4d3..e4aecd46a7 100644
--- a/src/logging/virtlogd.service.in
+++ b/src/logging/virtlogd.service.in
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Documentation=man:virtlogd(8)
 Documentation=https://libvirt.org
 
 [Service]
+Environment=VIRTLOGD_ARGS=
 EnvironmentFile=-@initconfdir@/virtlogd
 ExecStart=@sbindir@/virtlogd $VIRTLOGD_ARGS
 ExecReload=/bin/kill -USR1 $MAINPID