diff --git a/src/tmpfiles.c b/src/tmpfiles.c
index 3dabe469201..d7ca062a55a 100644
--- a/src/tmpfiles.c
+++ b/src/tmpfiles.c
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         else
                 prefix = "/";
 
-        log_set_target(LOG_TARGET_SYSLOG_OR_KMSG);
+        log_set_target(LOG_TARGET_AUTO);
         log_parse_environment();
         log_open();