diff --git a/etc/rally/rally.conf.sample b/etc/rally/rally.conf.sample
index f6d2effe09..1f41ac6a83 100644
--- a/etc/rally/rally.conf.sample
+++ b/etc/rally/rally.conf.sample
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 
 # Log output to standard error. This option is ignored if
 # log_config_append is set. (boolean value)
-#use_stderr = false
+#use_stderr = true
 
 # Format string to use for log messages with context. (string value)
 #logging_context_format_string = %(asctime)s.%(msecs)03d %(process)d %(levelname)s %(name)s [%(request_id)s %(user_identity)s] %(instance)s%(message)s
diff --git a/rally/api.py b/rally/api.py
index eb498894d7..20f2b7888e 100644
--- a/rally/api.py
+++ b/rally/api.py
@@ -1206,6 +1206,7 @@ class API(object):
                  project="rally",
                  version=rally_version.version_string(),
                  default_config_files=config_files)
+            CONF.set_default("use_stderr", True)
 
             logging.setup("rally")
             if not CONF.get("log_config_append"):
diff --git a/rally/common/opts.py b/rally/common/opts.py
index d0dab4e588..e00ae5ac35 100644
--- a/rally/common/opts.py
+++ b/rally/common/opts.py
@@ -33,6 +33,13 @@ def list_opts():
     return merged_opts.items()
 
 
+def update_opt_defaults():
+    logging.oslogging.cfg.set_defaults(
+        logging.oslogging._options.generic_log_opts,
+        use_stderr=True
+    )
+
+
 _registered = False
 
 
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 6d530e72de..a5dff1f7f3 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ console_scripts =
     rally-manage = rally.cli.manage:main
 oslo.config.opts =
     rally = rally.common.opts:list_opts
+oslo.config.opts.defaults =
+    rally = rally.common.opts:update_opt_defaults
 
 [global]
 setup-hooks =