diff --git a/mythtv/libs/libmythbase/mythsystem.cpp b/mythtv/libs/libmythbase/mythsystem.cpp
index d6062419b2e..02cd3ed56ed 100644
--- a/mythtv/libs/libmythbase/mythsystem.cpp
+++ b/mythtv/libs/libmythbase/mythsystem.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ void MythSystem::SetCommand(const QString &command,
     // add logging arguments
     if (GetSetting("PropagateLogs"))
     {
-        if (m_args.isEmpty())
+        if (GetSetting("UseShell") && m_args.isEmpty())
         {
             m_command += logPropagateArgs;
             if (!logPropagateQuiet())