diff --git a/passt.c b/passt.c
index fd703de..7d323c2 100644
--- a/passt.c
+++ b/passt.c
@@ -243,9 +243,16 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	conf(&c, argc, argv);
 	trace_init(c.trace);
 
-	if (!c.debug && (c.stderr || isatty(fileno(stdout))))
+	if (c.stderr || isatty(fileno(stdout)))
 		__openlog(log_name, LOG_PERROR, LOG_DAEMON);
 
+	if (c.debug)
+		__setlogmask(LOG_UPTO(LOG_DEBUG));
+	else if (c.quiet)
+		__setlogmask(LOG_UPTO(LOG_ERR));
+	else
+		__setlogmask(LOG_UPTO(LOG_INFO));
+
 	quit_fd = pasta_netns_quit_init(&c);
 
 	c.fd_tap = c.fd_tap_listen = -1;
@@ -267,13 +274,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (c.ifi6 && !c.no_dhcpv6)
 		dhcpv6_init(&c);
 
-	if (c.debug)
-		__setlogmask(LOG_UPTO(LOG_DEBUG));
-	else if (c.quiet)
-		__setlogmask(LOG_UPTO(LOG_ERR));
-	else
-		__setlogmask(LOG_UPTO(LOG_INFO));
-
 	pcap_init(&c);
 
 	if (!c.foreground) {