diff --git a/src/addclub.c b/src/addclub.c
index 4174b07..28306d1 100644
--- a/src/addclub.c
+++ b/src/addclub.c
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     int ret;
 
     prog = xstrdup(basename(argv[0]));
-    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_AUTHPRIV);
+    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_AUTHPRIV, 1);
 
     configure();
 
diff --git a/src/addmember.c b/src/addmember.c
index 506f707..92b963c 100644
--- a/src/addmember.c
+++ b/src/addmember.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     int ret;
 
     prog = xstrdup(basename(argv[0]));
-    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_AUTHPRIV);
+    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_AUTHPRIV, 1);
 
     configure();
 
diff --git a/src/ceoc.c b/src/ceoc.c
index 8ae7320..d6ada68 100644
--- a/src/ceoc.c
+++ b/src/ceoc.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     char *op;
 
     prog = xstrdup(basename(argv[0]));
-    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_USER);
+    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_USER, 1);
 
     configure();
     setup_ops();
diff --git a/src/dmaster.c b/src/dmaster.c
index 4751fb7..86fea47 100644
--- a/src/dmaster.c
+++ b/src/dmaster.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     int ret;
 
     prog = xstrdup(basename(argv[0]));
-    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_DAEMON);
+    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_DAEMON, 0);
 
     configure();
 
diff --git a/src/op-adduser.c b/src/op-adduser.c
index e9a05c0..060f385 100644
--- a/src/op-adduser.c
+++ b/src/op-adduser.c
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ void cmd_adduser(void) {
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     prog = xstrdup(basename(argv[0]));
-    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_AUTHPRIV);
+    init_log(prog, LOG_PID, LOG_AUTHPRIV, 0);
 
     configure();
 
diff --git a/src/util.c b/src/util.c
index 6b0a5b4..8d90d8c 100644
--- a/src/util.c
+++ b/src/util.c
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 
 static int log_stderr = 1;
 
-void init_log(const char *ident, int option, int facility) {
+void init_log(const char *ident, int option, int facility, int lstderr) {
     openlog(ident, option, facility);
-    log_stderr = isatty(STDERR_FILENO);
+    log_stderr = lstderr || isatty(STDERR_FILENO);
 }
 
 static void errmsg(int prio, const char *prefix, const char *fmt, va_list args) {
diff --git a/src/util.h b/src/util.h
index 70fc82d..c0dce50 100644
--- a/src/util.h
+++ b/src/util.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ ssize_t full_read(int fd, void *buf, size_t len);
 FILE *fopenat(DIR *d, const char *path, int flags);
 void make_env(char **envp, ...);
 void free_env(char **envp);
-void init_log(const char *ident, int option, int facility);
+void init_log(const char *ident, int option, int facility, int lstderr);
 int check_group(char *username, char *group);
 
 PRINTF_LIKE(0) NORETURN void fatal(const char *, ...);