diff --git a/cmd/roy/roy.go b/cmd/roy/roy.go
index 4f4f692a..191d9046 100644
--- a/cmd/roy/roy.go
+++ b/cmd/roy/roy.go
@@ -117,18 +117,6 @@ Additional flags:
       Use a different siegfried home directory.
 `
 
-func setLogger(utc bool) {
-	lw := new(logformatter.LogWriter)
-	lw.Appname = "roy"
-	lw.UTC = utc
-	log.SetOutput(lw)
-}
-
-func init() {
-	// format the application logger before all other init.
-	setLogger(true)
-}
-
 var (
 	// BUILD, ADD flag sets
 	build         = flag.NewFlagSet("build | add", flag.ExitOnError)
@@ -536,11 +524,11 @@ func setSetsOptions() {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	logformatter.Set("roy", true)
 	var err error
 	if len(os.Args) < 2 {
 		log.Fatal(usage)
 	}
-
 	switch os.Args[1] {
 	case "build":
 		err = build.Parse(os.Args[2:])
diff --git a/cmd/sf/sf.go b/cmd/sf/sf.go
index b17c4a0f..8229cd10 100644
--- a/cmd/sf/sf.go
+++ b/cmd/sf/sf.go
@@ -43,18 +43,6 @@ import (
 // defaults
 const maxMulti = 1024
 
-func setLogger(utc bool) {
-	lw := new(logformatter.LogWriter)
-	lw.Appname = "sf"
-	lw.UTC = utc
-	log.SetOutput(lw)
-}
-
-func init() {
-	// format the application logger before all other init.
-	setLogger(true)
-}
-
 // flags
 var (
 	updateShort    = flag.Bool("u", false, "update or install the default signature file")
@@ -323,6 +311,7 @@ func replayFile(path string, ctxts chan *context, w writer.Writer) error {
 
 func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
+	logformatter.Set("sf", true)
 	// configure home
 	if *home != config.Home() {
 		config.SetHome(*home)
diff --git a/internal/logformatter/log.go b/internal/logformatter/log.go
index 6a2c614d..b2d2919e 100644
--- a/internal/logformatter/log.go
+++ b/internal/logformatter/log.go
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ func (lw *LogWriter) Write(logString []byte) (int, error) {
 	)
 }
 
-func init() {
-	// Configure logging to use a custom log writer with sensible defaults.
+func Set(app string, utc bool) {
 	log.SetFlags(0 | log.Lshortfile | log.LUTC)
-	log.SetOutput(new(LogWriter))
+	lw := &LogWriter{}
+	lw.Appname = app
+	lw.UTC = utc
+	log.SetOutput(lw)
 }