diff --git a/daemon/libvirtd.c b/daemon/libvirtd.c
index d2e0a046be..d5f3e4c29c 100644
--- a/daemon/libvirtd.c
+++ b/daemon/libvirtd.c
@@ -636,10 +636,13 @@ daemonSetupLogging(struct daemonConfig *config,
         virLogParseOutputs(config->log_outputs);
 
     /*
-     * If no defined outputs, then first try to direct it
-     * to the systemd journal (if it exists)....
+     * If no defined outputs, and either running
+     * as daemon or not on a tty, then first try
+     * to direct it to the systemd journal
+     * (if it exists)....
      */
-    if (virLogGetNbOutputs() == 0) {
+    if (virLogGetNbOutputs() == 0 &&
+        (godaemon || !isatty(STDIN_FILENO))) {
         char *tmp;
         if (access("/run/systemd/journal/socket", W_OK) >= 0) {
             if (virAsprintf(&tmp, "%d:journald", virLogGetDefaultPriority()) < 0)
diff --git a/src/util/logging.c b/src/util/logging.c
index 9a8bba119a..dd4384276e 100644
--- a/src/util/logging.c
+++ b/src/util/logging.c
@@ -1247,6 +1247,8 @@ virLogParseOutputs(const char *outputs)
     if (cur == NULL)
         return -1;
 
+    VIR_DEBUG("outputs=%s", outputs);
+
     virSkipSpaces(&cur);
     while (*cur != 0) {
         prio= virParseNumber(&cur);