diff --git a/ietf/utils/log.py b/ietf/utils/log.py
index 8208e751a..c2419b103 100644
--- a/ietf/utils/log.py
+++ b/ietf/utils/log.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def log(msg, e=None):
         pass
     _logfunc = logfunc
     if settings.SERVER_MODE == 'test':
-        if settings.show_logging:
+        if settings.get('show_logging', False) is True:
             _logfunc = debug.say
             _flushfunc = sys.stdout.flush   # pyflakes:ignore (intentional redefinition)
         else: