diff --git a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/service/DriverService.java b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/service/DriverService.java
index a34f594e5ff1a..f5313bf90ed8f 100644
--- a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/service/DriverService.java
+++ b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/service/DriverService.java
@@ -444,8 +444,12 @@ protected Duration getDefaultTimeout() {
     }
 
     protected OutputStream getLogOutput() {
+      if (logOutputStream != null) {
+        return logOutputStream;
+      }
       try {
-        return logOutputStream != null ? logOutputStream : new FileOutputStream(logFile);
+        File logFile = getLogFile();
+        return logFile == null ? ByteStreams.nullOutputStream() : new FileOutputStream(logFile);
       } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
         throw new RuntimeException(e);
       }