diff --git a/paunch/cmd.py b/paunch/cmd.py
index 31ab012..157459e 100644
--- a/paunch/cmd.py
+++ b/paunch/cmd.py
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ import yaml
 
 import paunch
 
+from paunch import constants
+from paunch import utils
+
 
 class Apply(command.Command):
 
@@ -62,8 +65,9 @@ class Apply(command.Command):
         # takes 1, or 2 if --verbose, or 4 - 5 if --debug
         log_level = (self.app_args.verbose_level +
                      int(self.app_args.debug) * 3)
-        self.log = paunch.utils.common.configure_logging(
-            __name__, log_level, self.app_args.log_file)
+        log_file = self.app_args.log_file or constants.LOG_FILE
+        self.log = utils.common.configure_logging(
+            __name__, log_level, log_file)
         labels = collections.OrderedDict()
         for l in parsed_args.labels:
             k, v = l.split(('='), 1)
@@ -78,7 +82,7 @@ class Apply(command.Command):
             managed_by='paunch',
             labels=labels,
             log_level=log_level,
-            log_file=self.app_args.log_file
+            log_file=log_file
         )
 
         return rc
@@ -110,13 +114,14 @@ class Cleanup(command.Command):
         # takes 1, or 2 if --verbose, or 4 - 5 if --debug
         log_level = (self.app_args.verbose_level +
                      int(self.app_args.debug) * 3)
-        self.log = paunch.utils.common.configure_logging(
-            __name__, log_level, self.app_args.log_file)
+        log_file = self.app_args.log_file or constants.LOG_FILE
+        self.log = utils.common.configure_logging(
+            __name__, log_level, log_file)
         paunch.cleanup(
             parsed_args.config_id,
             managed_by=parsed_args.managed_by,
             log_level=log_level,
-            log_file=self.app_args.log_file
+            log_file=log_file
         )
 
 
@@ -145,13 +150,14 @@ class Delete(command.Command):
         # takes 1, or 2 if --verbose, or 4 - 5 if --debug
         log_level = (self.app_args.verbose_level +
                      int(self.app_args.debug) * 3)
-        self.log = paunch.utils.common.configure_logging(
-            __name__, log_level, self.app_args.log_file)
+        log_file = self.app_args.log_file or constants.LOG_FILE
+        self.log = utils.common.configure_logging(
+            __name__, log_level, log_file)
         paunch.delete(
             parsed_args.config_id,
             parsed_args.managed_by,
             log_level=log_level,
-            log_file=self.app_args.log_file
+            log_file=log_file
         )
 
 
@@ -242,8 +248,10 @@ class Debug(command.Command):
         # takes 1, or 2 if --verbose, or 4 - 5 if --debug
         log_level = (self.app_args.verbose_level +
                      int(self.app_args.debug) * 3)
-        self.log = paunch.utils.common.configure_logging(
-            __name__, log_level, self.app_args.log_file)
+        # Only log to a file if explicitely set via CLI args
+        log_file = self.app_args.log_file
+        self.log = utils.common.configure_logging(
+            __name__, log_level, log_file)
         labels = collections.OrderedDict()
         for l in parsed_args.labels:
             k, v = l.split(('='), 1)
@@ -286,7 +294,7 @@ class Debug(command.Command):
             parsed_args.managed_by,
             labels=labels,
             log_level=log_level,
-            log_file=self.app_args.log_file
+            log_file=log_file
         )
 
 
@@ -309,12 +317,13 @@ class List(lister.Lister):
         # takes 1, or 2 if --verbose, or 4 - 5 if --debug
         log_level = (self.app_args.verbose_level +
                      int(self.app_args.debug) * 3)
-        self.log = paunch.utils.common.configure_logging(
-            __name__, log_level, self.app_args.log_file)
+        log_file = self.app_args.log_file or constants.LOG_FILE
+        self.log = utils.common.configure_logging(
+            __name__, log_level, log_file)
         configs = paunch.list(
             parsed_args.managed_by,
             log_level=log_level,
-            log_file=self.app_args.log_file
+            log_file=log_file
         )
         columns = [
             'config',
diff --git a/paunch/constants.py b/paunch/constants.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c96567c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paunch/constants.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#   Copyright 2018 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+#   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#   not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#   a copy of the License at
+#
+#        http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#   WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#   License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#   under the License.
+#
+
+LOG_FILE = '/var/log/paunch.log'