diff --git a/src/worker/src/main.c b/src/worker/src/main.c
index 36559e3a..4beaaf42 100644
--- a/src/worker/src/main.c
+++ b/src/worker/src/main.c
@@ -376,6 +376,10 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
      * without requiring root privileges. */
     check_user();
 
+    if (logdir == NULL) {
+        logdir = strdup("/tmp");
+    }
+
     /* P2.5-5: populate and validate xce_cluster_config_t when --peers given */
     if (peers_str) {
         if (xce_parse_peers(peers_str, &cluster_cfg) != 0) {