diff --git a/slave_scripts/devstack-vm-gate-host.sh b/slave_scripts/devstack-vm-gate-host.sh
index 4f3feeec..7a56c47c 100755
--- a/slave_scripts/devstack-vm-gate-host.sh
+++ b/slave_scripts/devstack-vm-gate-host.sh
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ fi
 # Start with a fresh syslog
 sudo stop rsyslog
 sudo mv /var/log/syslog /var/log/syslog-pre-devstack
+sudo touch /var/log/syslog
+sudo chmod a+r /var/log/syslog
 sudo start rsyslog
 
 ./stack.sh