diff --git a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/service/DriverService.java b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/service/DriverService.java
index 43dc4c2edc0d9..b3d0786b71a71 100644
--- a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/service/DriverService.java
+++ b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/remote/service/DriverService.java
@@ -445,7 +445,13 @@ protected Duration getDefaultTimeout() {
 
     protected OutputStream getLogOutput() {
       try {
-        return logOutputStream != null ? logOutputStream : new FileOutputStream(logFile);
+        if (logOutputStream == null && getLogFile() == null) {
+          return ByteStreams.nullOutputStream();
+        } else if (logOutputStream == null) {
+          return new FileOutputStream(getLogFile());
+        } else {
+          return logOutputStream;
+        }
       } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
         throw new RuntimeException(e);
       }