diff --git a/sugar/logger.py b/sugar/logger.py
index 43d0d768..26b03ac5 100644
--- a/sugar/logger.py
+++ b/sugar/logger.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def start(log_filename=None):
     if os.environ.has_key('SUGAR_LOGGER_LEVEL'):
         set_level(os.environ['SUGAR_LOGGER_LEVEL'])
 
-    if log_filename:
+    if log_filename and not sys.stdin.isatty():
         log_path = os.path.join(get_logs_dir(), log_filename + '.log')
         log_file = open(log_path, 'w')