diff --git a/lib/charms/mongodb/v1/helpers.py b/lib/charms/mongodb/v1/helpers.py
index 806c0ed2f..51a14e4d3 100644
--- a/lib/charms/mongodb/v1/helpers.py
+++ b/lib/charms/mongodb/v1/helpers.py
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ def get_mongod_args(
     full_conf_dir = f"{MONGODB_SNAP_DATA_DIR}{CONF_DIR}" if snap_install else CONF_DIR
     # in k8s the default logging options that are used for the vm charm are ignored and logs are
     # the output of the container. To enable logging to a file it must be set explicitly
-    logging_options = "" if snap_install else f"--logpath={full_data_dir}/{MONGODB_LOG_FILENAME}"
+    logging_options = f"--logpath={full_data_dir}/{MONGODB_LOG_FILENAME}" if snap_install else ""
     cmd = [
         # bind to localhost and external interfaces
         "--bind_ip_all",
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_mongodb_helpers.py b/tests/unit/test_mongodb_helpers.py
index 4c5bd675c..89ed04e6c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_mongodb_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_mongodb_helpers.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ def test_get_mongod_args(self):
             "--auditDestination=file",
             "--auditFormat=JSON",
             "--auditPath=/var/snap/charmed-mongodb/common/var/lib/mongodb/audit.json",
+            "--logpath=/var/snap/charmed-mongodb/common/var/lib/mongodb/mongodb.log",
             "--auth",
             "--clusterAuthMode=keyFile",
             "--keyFile=/var/snap/charmed-mongodb/current/etc/mongod/keyFile",
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ def test_get_mongod_args(self):
             "--auditDestination=file",
             "--auditFormat=JSON",
             "--auditPath=/var/snap/charmed-mongodb/common/var/lib/mongodb/audit.json",
+            "--logpath=/var/snap/charmed-mongodb/common/var/lib/mongodb/mongodb.log",
         ]
 
         self.assertEqual(
@@ -59,7 +61,6 @@ def test_get_mongod_args(self):
             "--auditDestination=file",
             "--auditFormat=JSON",
             "--auditPath=/var/lib/mongodb/audit.json",
-            "--logpath=/var/lib/mongodb/mongodb.log",
         ]
 
         self.assertEqual(