diff --git a/src/log.c b/src/log.c
index 69b6dc0..f85d29d 100644
--- a/src/log.c
+++ b/src/log.c
@@ -115,9 +115,6 @@ void log_message (int level, const char *fmt, ...)
 
         ssize_t ret;
 
-        if(!config.syslog && log_file_fd == -1)
-                return;
-
 #ifdef NDEBUG
         /*
          * Figure out if we should write the message or not.
@@ -164,6 +161,9 @@ void log_message (int level, const char *fmt, ...)
                 goto out;
         }
 
+        if(!config.syslog && log_file_fd == -1)
+                goto out;
+
         if (config.syslog) {
 #ifdef HAVE_VSYSLOG_H
                 vsyslog (level, fmt, args);