diff --git a/src/service_cmd/runner/runner.go b/src/service_cmd/runner/runner.go
index d5de0c36..9ac6d09f 100644
--- a/src/service_cmd/runner/runner.go
+++ b/src/service_cmd/runner/runner.go
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ type Runner struct {
 }
 
 func NewRunner(s settings.Settings) Runner {
+	configureLogger(s)
+
 	var store gostats.Store
 
 	switch {
@@ -91,6 +93,24 @@ func NewRunner(s settings.Settings) Runner {
 	}
 }
 
+func configureLogger(s settings.Settings) {
+	logLevel, err := logger.ParseLevel(s.LogLevel)
+	if err != nil {
+		logger.Fatalf("Could not parse log level. %v\n", err)
+	}
+	logger.SetLevel(logLevel)
+
+	if strings.ToLower(s.LogFormat) == "json" {
+		logger.SetFormatter(&logger.JSONFormatter{
+			TimestampFormat: time.RFC3339Nano,
+			FieldMap: logger.FieldMap{
+				logger.FieldKeyTime: "@timestamp",
+				logger.FieldKeyMsg:  "@message",
+			},
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func (runner *Runner) GetStatsStore() gostats.Store {
 	return runner.statsManager.GetStatsStore()
 }
@@ -157,22 +177,6 @@ func (runner *Runner) Run() {
 		logger.Infof("Tracing disabled")
 	}
 
-	logLevel, err := logger.ParseLevel(s.LogLevel)
-	if err != nil {
-		logger.Fatalf("Could not parse log level. %v\n", err)
-	} else {
-		logger.SetLevel(logLevel)
-	}
-	if strings.ToLower(s.LogFormat) == "json" {
-		logger.SetFormatter(&logger.JSONFormatter{
-			TimestampFormat: time.RFC3339Nano,
-			FieldMap: logger.FieldMap{
-				logger.FieldKeyTime: "@timestamp",
-				logger.FieldKeyMsg:  "@message",
-			},
-		})
-	}
-
 	var localCache *freecache.Cache
 	if s.LocalCacheSizeInBytes != 0 {
 		localCache = freecache.NewCache(s.LocalCacheSizeInBytes)