diff --git a/nats-streaming-server.go b/nats-streaming-server.go
index ff132c4e..5b204f2e 100644
--- a/nats-streaming-server.go
+++ b/nats-streaming-server.go
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Embedded NATS Server Options:
 Logging Options:
     -l, --log <string>               File to redirect log output
     -T, --logtime=<bool>             Timestamp log entries (default: true)
-    -s, --syslog <string>            Enable syslog as log method
+    -s, --syslog <bool>              Enable syslog as log method
     -r, --remote_syslog <string>     Syslog server addr (udp://localhost:514)
     -D, --debug=<bool>               Enable debugging output
     -V, --trace=<bool>               Trace the raw protocol
diff --git a/server/service_windows.go b/server/service_windows.go
index 3d57116c..24b04a9a 100644
--- a/server/service_windows.go
+++ b/server/service_windows.go
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ func Run(sOpts *Options, nOpts *natsd.Options) (*StanServer, error) {
 	}
 	if isInteractive {
 		run = debug.Run
-	} else {
+	} else if nOpts.Syslog || nOpts.LogFile == "" {
 		sysLogInitLock.Lock()
 		// We create a syslog here because we want to capture possible startup
 		// failure message.