diff --git a/.golangci.yml b/.golangci.yml
index e0b55c189c2..24c9e5b035a 100644
--- a/.golangci.yml
+++ b/.golangci.yml
@@ -103,3 +103,6 @@ issues:
     - text: 'string `labels` has 3 occurrences, make it a constant'
       linters:
         - goconst
+    - text: 'string `off` has 6 occurrences, make it a constant'
+      linters:
+        - goconst
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index c8ad843acc2..57f7bef8f76 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ package config
 import (
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path"
@@ -29,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 	_ "time/tzdata" // Imports time zone data instead of relying on the os
 
+	"code.vikunja.io/api/pkg/log"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
@@ -400,13 +400,17 @@ func InitConfig() {
 	viper.SetEnvKeyReplacer(strings.NewReplacer(".", "_"))
 	viper.AutomaticEnv()
 
+	// Just load environment variables
+	_ = viper.ReadInConfig()
+	log.ConfigLogger(LogEnabled.GetBool(), LogStandard.GetString(), LogPath.GetString(), LogLevel.GetString())
+
 	// Load the config file
 	viper.AddConfigPath(ServiceRootpath.GetString())
 	viper.AddConfigPath("/etc/vikunja/")
 
 	homeDir, err := os.UserHomeDir()
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Printf("No home directory found, not using config from ~/.config/vikunja/. Error was: %s\n", err.Error())
+		log.Debugf("No home directory found, not using config from ~/.config/vikunja/. Error was: %s\n", err.Error())
 	} else {
 		viper.AddConfigPath(path.Join(homeDir, ".config", "vikunja"))
 	}
@@ -415,15 +419,18 @@ func InitConfig() {
 	viper.SetConfigName("config")
 
 	err = viper.ReadInConfig()
+
 	if viper.ConfigFileUsed() != "" {
-		log.Printf("Using config file: %s", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
+		log.Infof("Using config file: %s", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
 
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Println(err.Error())
-			log.Println("Using default config.")
+			log.Warning(err.Error())
+			log.Warning("Using default config.")
+		} else {
+			log.ConfigLogger(LogEnabled.GetBool(), LogStandard.GetString(), LogPath.GetString(), LogLevel.GetString())
 		}
 	} else {
-		log.Println("No config file found, using default or config from environment variables.")
+		log.Info("No config file found, using default or config from environment variables.")
 	}
 
 	if RateLimitStore.GetString() == "keyvalue" {
@@ -455,7 +462,7 @@ func InitConfig() {
 	}
 
 	if ServiceEnableMetrics.GetBool() {
-		log.Println("WARNING: service.enablemetrics is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use metrics.enable.")
+		log.Warning("service.enablemetrics is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use metrics.enable.")
 		MetricsEnabled.Set(true)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/db/db.go b/pkg/db/db.go
index c46c2bcc351..dba8d7dc052 100644
--- a/pkg/db/db.go
+++ b/pkg/db/db.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func CreateDBEngine() (engine *xorm.Engine, err error) {
 	}
 	engine.SetTZDatabase(loc)
 	engine.SetMapper(names.GonicMapper{})
-	logger := log.NewXormLogger("")
+	logger := log.NewXormLogger(config.LogEnabled.GetBool(), config.LogDatabase.GetString(), config.LogDatabaseLevel.GetString())
 	engine.SetLogger(logger)
 
 	x = engine
diff --git a/pkg/db/test.go b/pkg/db/test.go
index 3be2cb1e928..a375d42187d 100644
--- a/pkg/db/test.go
+++ b/pkg/db/test.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func CreateTestEngine() (engine *xorm.Engine, err error) {
 	}
 
 	engine.SetMapper(names.GonicMapper{})
-	logger := log.NewXormLogger("DEBUG")
+	logger := log.NewXormLogger(config.LogEnabled.GetBool(), config.LogDatabase.GetString(), "DEBUG")
 	logger.ShowSQL(os.Getenv("UNIT_TESTS_VERBOSE") == "1")
 	engine.SetLogger(logger)
 	engine.SetTZLocation(config.GetTimeZone())
diff --git a/pkg/events/events.go b/pkg/events/events.go
index 1613f39af88..69c8cf7555e 100644
--- a/pkg/events/events.go
+++ b/pkg/events/events.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"time"
 
+	"code.vikunja.io/api/pkg/config"
 	"code.vikunja.io/api/pkg/log"
 	vmetrics "code.vikunja.io/api/pkg/metrics"
 	"github.com/ThreeDotsLabs/watermill"
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ type Event interface {
 
 // InitEvents sets up everything needed to work with events
 func InitEvents() (err error) {
-	logger := log.NewWatermillLogger()
+	logger := log.NewWatermillLogger(config.LogEnabled.GetBool(), config.LogEvents.GetString(), config.LogEventsLevel.GetString())
 
 	router, err := message.NewRouter(
 		message.RouterConfig{},
diff --git a/pkg/initialize/init.go b/pkg/initialize/init.go
index 4ae3fb60b7c..e62b3817545 100644
--- a/pkg/initialize/init.go
+++ b/pkg/initialize/init.go
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ import (
 
 // LightInit will only fullInit config, redis, logger but no db connection.
 func LightInit() {
+	// Set logger
+	log.InitLogger()
+
 	// Init the config
 	config.InitConfig()
 
@@ -43,9 +46,6 @@ func LightInit() {
 
 	// Init keyvalue store
 	keyvalue.InitStorage()
-
-	// Set logger
-	log.InitLogger()
 }
 
 // InitEngines intializes all db connections
diff --git a/pkg/log/logging.go b/pkg/log/logging.go
index 1f12d8c2070..66971f4ef82 100644
--- a/pkg/log/logging.go
+++ b/pkg/log/logging.go
@@ -22,9 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"code.vikunja.io/api/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/op/go-logging"
-	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
 // ErrFmt holds the format for all the console logging
@@ -41,42 +39,45 @@ const logModule = `vikunja`
 // loginstance is the instance of the logger which is used under the hood to log
 var logInstance = logging.MustGetLogger(logModule)
 
+// logpath is the path in which log files will be written.
+// This value is a mere fallback for other modules that could but shouldn't be used before calling ConfigLogger
+var logPath = "."
+
 // InitLogger initializes the global log handler
 func InitLogger() {
-	if !config.LogEnabled.GetBool() {
-		// Disable all logging when loggin in general is disabled, overwriting everything a user might have set.
-		config.LogStandard.Set("off")
-		config.LogDatabase.Set("off")
-		config.LogHTTP.Set("off")
-		config.LogEcho.Set("off")
-		config.LogEvents.Set("off")
-		return
-	}
-
 	// This show correct caller functions
 	logInstance.ExtraCalldepth = 1
 
-	if config.LogStandard.GetString() == "file" {
-		err := os.Mkdir(config.LogPath.GetString(), 0744)
-		if err != nil && !os.IsExist(err) {
-			Fatalf("Could not create log folder: %s", err.Error())
-		}
+	// Init with stdout and INFO as default format and level
+	logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(os.Stdout, "", 0)
+	backend := logging.NewBackendFormatter(logBackend, logging.MustStringFormatter(Fmt+"\n"))
+
+	backendLeveled := logging.AddModuleLevel(backend)
+	backendLeveled.SetLevel(logging.INFO, logModule)
+
+	logInstance.SetBackend(backendLeveled)
+}
+
+// ConfigLogger configures the global log handler
+func ConfigLogger(configLogEnabled bool, configLogStandard string, configLogPath string, configLogLevel string) {
+	lvl := strings.ToUpper(configLogLevel)
+	level, err := logging.LogLevel(lvl)
+	if err != nil {
+		Fatalf("Error setting standard log level %s: %s", lvl, err.Error())
 	}
 
+	logPath = configLogPath
+
 	// The backend is the part which actually handles logging the log entries somewhere.
-	cf := config.LogStandard.GetString()
 	var backend logging.Backend
 	backend = &NoopBackend{}
-	if cf != "off" && cf != "false" {
-		stdWriter := GetLogWriter("standard")
-
-		logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(stdWriter, "", 0)
-		backend = logging.NewBackendFormatter(logBackend, logging.MustStringFormatter(Fmt+"\n"))
+	if configLogStandard == "false" {
+		configLogStandard = "off"
+		Warning("log.standard value 'false' is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use the value 'off'.")
 	}
-
-	level, err := logging.LogLevel(strings.ToUpper(config.LogLevel.GetString()))
-	if err != nil {
-		Fatalf("Error setting database log level: %s", err.Error())
+	if configLogEnabled && configLogStandard != "off" {
+		logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(GetLogWriter(configLogStandard, "standard"), "", 0)
+		backend = logging.NewBackendFormatter(logBackend, logging.MustStringFormatter(Fmt+"\n"))
 	}
 
 	backendLeveled := logging.AddModuleLevel(backend)
@@ -86,11 +87,14 @@ func InitLogger() {
 }
 
 // GetLogWriter returns the writer to where the normal log goes, depending on the config
-func GetLogWriter(logfile string) (writer io.Writer) {
+func GetLogWriter(logfmt string, logfile string) (writer io.Writer) {
 	writer = os.Stdout // Set the default case to prevent nil pointer panics
-	switch viper.GetString("log." + logfile) {
+	switch logfmt {
 	case "file":
-		fullLogFilePath := config.LogPath.GetString() + "/" + logfile + ".log"
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(logPath, 0744); err != nil {
+			Fatalf("Could not create log path: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+		fullLogFilePath := logPath + "/" + logfile + ".log"
 		f, err := os.OpenFile(fullLogFilePath, os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0600)
 		if err != nil {
 			Fatalf("Could not create logfile %s: %s", fullLogFilePath, err.Error())
diff --git a/pkg/log/mail_logger.go b/pkg/log/mail_logger.go
index 3cee481ff50..92da2ea0813 100644
--- a/pkg/log/mail_logger.go
+++ b/pkg/log/mail_logger.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"code.vikunja.io/api/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/op/go-logging"
 	"xorm.io/xorm/log"
 )
@@ -33,19 +32,24 @@ type MailLogger struct {
 const mailFormat = `%{color}%{time:` + time.RFC3339Nano + `}: %{level}` + "\t" + `▶ [MAIL] %{id:03x}%{color:reset} %{message}`
 const mailLogModule = `vikunja_mail`
 
-func NewMailLogger() *MailLogger {
-	lvl := strings.ToUpper(config.LogMailLevel.GetString())
+// NewMailLogger creates and initializes a new mail logger
+func NewMailLogger(configLogEnabled bool, configLogMail string, configLogMailLevel string) *MailLogger {
+	lvl := strings.ToUpper(configLogMailLevel)
 	level, err := logging.LogLevel(lvl)
 	if err != nil {
-		Criticalf("Error setting database log level: %s", err.Error())
+		Criticalf("Error setting mail log level %s: %s", lvl, err.Error())
 	}
 
 	mailLogger := &MailLogger{
 		logger: logging.MustGetLogger(mailLogModule),
 	}
 
-	logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(GetLogWriter("mail"), "", 0)
-	backend := logging.NewBackendFormatter(logBackend, logging.MustStringFormatter(mailFormat+"\n"))
+	var backend logging.Backend
+	backend = &NoopBackend{}
+	if configLogEnabled && configLogMail != "off" {
+		logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(GetLogWriter(configLogMail, "mail"), "", 0)
+		backend = logging.NewBackendFormatter(logBackend, logging.MustStringFormatter(mailFormat+"\n"))
+	}
 
 	backendLeveled := logging.AddModuleLevel(backend)
 	backendLeveled.SetLevel(level, mailLogModule)
diff --git a/pkg/log/watermill_logger.go b/pkg/log/watermill_logger.go
index 4c9681ea2a9..1d9e3ef6928 100644
--- a/pkg/log/watermill_logger.go
+++ b/pkg/log/watermill_logger.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"code.vikunja.io/api/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/ThreeDotsLabs/watermill"
 	"github.com/op/go-logging"
 )
@@ -34,8 +33,9 @@ type WatermillLogger struct {
 	logger *logging.Logger
 }
 
-func NewWatermillLogger() *WatermillLogger {
-	lvl := strings.ToUpper(config.LogEventsLevel.GetString())
+// NewXormLogger creates and initializes a new watermill logger
+func NewWatermillLogger(configLogEnabled bool, configLogEvents string, configLogEventsLevel string) *WatermillLogger {
+	lvl := strings.ToUpper(configLogEventsLevel)
 	level, err := logging.LogLevel(lvl)
 	if err != nil {
 		Criticalf("Error setting events log level %s: %s", lvl, err.Error())
@@ -45,11 +45,14 @@ func NewWatermillLogger() *WatermillLogger {
 		logger: logging.MustGetLogger(watermillLogModule),
 	}
 
-	cf := config.LogEvents.GetString()
 	var backend logging.Backend
 	backend = &NoopBackend{}
-	if cf != "off" && cf != "false" {
-		logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(GetLogWriter("events"), "", 0)
+	if configLogEvents == "false" {
+		configLogEvents = "off"
+		Warning("log.events value 'false' is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use the value 'off'.")
+	}
+	if configLogEnabled && configLogEvents != "off" {
+		logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(GetLogWriter(configLogEvents, "events"), "", 0)
 		backend = logging.NewBackendFormatter(logBackend, logging.MustStringFormatter(watermillFmt+"\n"))
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/log/xorm_logger.go b/pkg/log/xorm_logger.go
index fbcac999153..a987a93bf0e 100644
--- a/pkg/log/xorm_logger.go
+++ b/pkg/log/xorm_logger.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	"code.vikunja.io/api/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/op/go-logging"
 	"xorm.io/xorm/log"
 )
@@ -38,21 +37,23 @@ type XormLogger struct {
 }
 
 // NewXormLogger creates and initializes a new xorm logger
-func NewXormLogger(lvl string) *XormLogger {
-	if lvl == "" {
-		lvl = strings.ToUpper(config.LogDatabaseLevel.GetString())
-	}
+func NewXormLogger(configLogEnabled bool, configLogDatabase string, configLogDatabaseLevel string) *XormLogger {
+	lvl := strings.ToUpper(configLogDatabaseLevel)
 	level, err := logging.LogLevel(lvl)
 	if err != nil {
-		Criticalf("Error setting database log level: %s", err.Error())
+		Criticalf("Error setting database log level %s: %s", lvl, err.Error())
 	}
 
 	xormLogger := &XormLogger{
 		logger: logging.MustGetLogger(xormLogModule),
 	}
 
-	logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(GetLogWriter("database"), "", 0)
-	backend := logging.NewBackendFormatter(logBackend, logging.MustStringFormatter(XormFmt+"\n"))
+	var backend logging.Backend
+	backend = &NoopBackend{}
+	if configLogEnabled && configLogDatabase != "off" {
+		logBackend := logging.NewLogBackend(GetLogWriter(configLogDatabase, "database"), "", 0)
+		backend = logging.NewBackendFormatter(logBackend, logging.MustStringFormatter(XormFmt+"\n"))
+	}
 
 	backendLeveled := logging.AddModuleLevel(backend)
 	backendLeveled.SetLevel(level, xormLogModule)
@@ -64,8 +65,8 @@ func NewXormLogger(lvl string) *XormLogger {
 	case logging.ERROR:
 		xormLogger.level = log.LOG_ERR
 	case logging.WARNING:
-	case logging.NOTICE:
 		xormLogger.level = log.LOG_WARNING
+	case logging.NOTICE:
 	case logging.INFO:
 		xormLogger.level = log.LOG_INFO
 	case logging.DEBUG:
diff --git a/pkg/mail/mail.go b/pkg/mail/mail.go
index 6ba6c1fc67b..1da915cf6c5 100644
--- a/pkg/mail/mail.go
+++ b/pkg/mail/mail.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func getClient() (*mail.Client, error) {
 			ServerName:         config.MailerHost.GetString(),
 		}),
 		mail.WithTimeout((config.MailerQueueTimeout.GetDuration() + 3) * time.Second), // 3s more for us to close before mail server timeout
-		mail.WithLogger(log.NewMailLogger()),
+		mail.WithLogger(log.NewMailLogger(config.LogEnabled.GetBool(), config.LogMail.GetString(), config.LogMailLevel.GetString())),
 		mail.WithDebugLog(),
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/migration/migration.go b/pkg/migration/migration.go
index 8cc9d873aef..f21b79b0047 100644
--- a/pkg/migration/migration.go
+++ b/pkg/migration/migration.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func initMigration(x *xorm.Engine) *xormigrate.Xormigrate {
 	})
 
 	m := xormigrate.New(x, migrations)
-	logger := log.NewXormLogger("")
+	logger := log.NewXormLogger(config.LogEnabled.GetBool(), config.LogEvents.GetString(), config.LogEventsLevel.GetString())
 	m.SetLogger(logger)
 	m.InitSchema(initSchema)
 	return m
diff --git a/pkg/routes/routes.go b/pkg/routes/routes.go
index bb1e280ecdc..c3428c47b32 100644
--- a/pkg/routes/routes.go
+++ b/pkg/routes/routes.go
@@ -95,19 +95,19 @@ func NewEcho() *echo.Echo {
 	e.HideBanner = true
 
 	if l, ok := e.Logger.(*elog.Logger); ok {
-		if config.LogEcho.GetString() == "off" {
+		if !config.LogEnabled.GetBool() || config.LogEcho.GetString() == "off" {
 			l.SetLevel(elog.OFF)
 		}
 		l.EnableColor()
 		l.SetHeader(log.ErrFmt)
-		l.SetOutput(log.GetLogWriter("echo"))
+		l.SetOutput(log.GetLogWriter(config.LogEcho.GetString(), "echo"))
 	}
 
 	// Logger
-	if config.LogHTTP.GetString() != "off" {
+	if !config.LogEnabled.GetBool() || config.LogHTTP.GetString() != "off" {
 		e.Use(middleware.LoggerWithConfig(middleware.LoggerConfig{
 			Format: log.WebFmt + "\n",
-			Output: log.GetLogWriter("http"),
+			Output: log.GetLogWriter(config.LogHTTP.GetString(), "http"),
 		}))
 	}