diff --git a/bin/start.sh b/bin/start.sh
index 3d5410e0..347a07b2 100755
--- a/bin/start.sh
+++ b/bin/start.sh
@@ -88,12 +88,13 @@ if [[ "${OSNAME}" == "OS/390" ]]; then
       ZWES_LOG_FILE=$ZWES_LOG_DIR
     elif [ ! -d "$ZWES_LOG_DIR" ]
     then
-      echo "Will make log directory $ZWES_LOG_DIR"
-      mkdir -p $ZWES_LOG_DIR
-      if [ $? -ne 0 ]
-      then
-        echo "Cannot make log directory.  Logging disabled."
-        ZWES_LOG_FILE=/dev/null
+      if [ -n "${ZWES_LOG_DIR}" ]; then
+        echo "Will make log directory $ZWES_LOG_DIR"
+        mkdir -p $ZWES_LOG_DIR
+        if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+          echo "Cannot make log directory.  Logging disabled."
+          ZWES_LOG_FILE=/dev/null
+        fi
       fi
     fi
     ZWES_ROTATE_LOGS=0