diff --git a/lib/src/common/log_filter.cc b/lib/src/common/log_filter.cc
index 2c54a1b7e..5dc6b31fd 100644
--- a/lib/src/common/log_filter.cc
+++ b/lib/src/common/log_filter.cc
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ log_filter::log_filter(std::string layer, logger* logger_, bool tti) : log()
   do_tti      = false;
   time_src    = NULL;
   time_format = TIME;
+
+  if (!logger_) {
+    logger_ = &def_logger_stdout;
+  }
+
   init(std::move(layer), logger_, tti);
 }