diff --git a/cafe/drivers/unittest/decorators.py b/cafe/drivers/unittest/decorators.py
index 813c1e5..c336662 100644
--- a/cafe/drivers/unittest/decorators.py
+++ b/cafe/drivers/unittest/decorators.py
@@ -156,7 +156,9 @@ class memoized(object):
         self.__name__ = func.func_name
 
     def __call__(self, *args):
-        self._start_logging(cclogging.get_object_namespace(args[0]))
+        log_name = "{0}.{1}".format(
+            cclogging.get_object_namespace(args[0]), self.__name__)
+        self._start_logging(log_name)
         if not isinstance(args, collections.Hashable):
             # uncacheable. a list, for instance.
             # better to not cache than blow up.
@@ -181,12 +183,6 @@ class memoized(object):
         """Return the function's docstring."""
         return self.func.__doc__
 
-    # Because the root log is initialized in the base test fixture, and because
-    # datalist generators are run before that test fixture is initialized,
-    # it is neccessary to add a log handler to the root logger so that logs
-    # get logged.  Once the root log handler initialization is moved
-    # upstream of the base test fixture initialization, this code can be
-    # removed.
     def _start_logging(self, log_file_name):
         setattr(self.func, '_log_handler', cclogging.setup_new_cchandler(
             log_file_name))
diff --git a/cafe/drivers/unittest/fixtures.py b/cafe/drivers/unittest/fixtures.py
index c608b02..063289b 100644
--- a/cafe/drivers/unittest/fixtures.py
+++ b/cafe/drivers/unittest/fixtures.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import re
 import unittest
 
 from cafe.drivers.base import FixtureReporter
-from cafe.common.reporting.cclogging import init_root_log_handler
 
 
 class BaseTestFixture(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -75,8 +74,6 @@ class BaseTestFixture(unittest.TestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         super(BaseTestFixture, cls).setUpClass()
-        # TODO: Move root log handler initialization to the runner!
-        init_root_log_handler()
         cls._reporter = FixtureReporter(cls)
         cls.fixture_log = cls._reporter.logger.log
         cls._reporter.start()
diff --git a/cafe/drivers/unittest/runner.py b/cafe/drivers/unittest/runner.py
index a37928c..d799801 100755
--- a/cafe/drivers/unittest/runner.py
+++ b/cafe/drivers/unittest/runner.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from inspect import isclass
 from multiprocessing import Process, Manager
 from re import search
 from traceback import print_exc
-
+from cafe.common.reporting.cclogging import init_root_log_handler
 from cafe.common.reporting.cclogging import log_results
 from cafe.common.reporting.reporter import Reporter
 from cafe.configurator.managers import TestEnvManager
@@ -673,6 +673,7 @@ class UnittestRunner(object):
         self.test_env.test_data_directory = (
             self.test_env.test_data_directory or self.cl_args.data_directory)
         self.test_env.finalize()
+        init_root_log_handler()
         self.product = self.cl_args.product
         self.test_repo = (
             self.test_env.engine_config_interface.default_test_repo)
diff --git a/cafe/engine/models/data_interfaces.py b/cafe/engine/models/data_interfaces.py
index a25d29d..1b53e2e 100644
--- a/cafe/engine/models/data_interfaces.py
+++ b/cafe/engine/models/data_interfaces.py
@@ -134,7 +134,12 @@ class ConfigParserDataSource(DataSource):
         try:
             return self._data_source.get(self._section_name, item_name)
         except (ConfigParser.NoOptionError, ConfigParser.NoSectionError) as e:
-            self._log.error(str(e))
+            if default is None:
+                self._log.error(str(e))
+            else:
+                msg = "{0}.  Using default value '{1}' instead".format(
+                    str(e), default)
+                self._log.warning(msg)
             return default
 
     def get_raw(self, item_name, default=None):
@@ -142,7 +147,12 @@ class ConfigParserDataSource(DataSource):
             return self._data_source.get(
                 self._section_name, item_name, raw=True)
         except (ConfigParser.NoOptionError, ConfigParser.NoSectionError) as e:
-            self._log.error(str(e))
+            if default is None:
+                self._log.error(str(e))
+            else:
+                msg = "{0}.  Using default value '{1}' instead".format(
+                    str(e), default)
+                self._log.warning(msg)
             return default
 
     def get_boolean(self, item_name, default=None):
@@ -150,7 +160,12 @@ class ConfigParserDataSource(DataSource):
         try:
             return self._data_source.getboolean(self._section_name, item_name)
         except (ConfigParser.NoOptionError, ConfigParser.NoSectionError) as e:
-            self._log.error(str(e))
+            if default is None:
+                self._log.error(str(e))
+            else:
+                msg = "{0}.  Using default value '{1}' instead".format(
+                    str(e), default)
+                self._log.warning(msg)
             return default