diff --git a/spa/plugins/support/logger.c b/spa/plugins/support/logger.c
index 0de15c280..ca8d93f69 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/support/logger.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/support/logger.c
@@ -348,6 +348,9 @@ impl_init(const struct spa_handle_factory *factory,
 	}
 	if (this->file == NULL)
 		this->file = stderr;
+	else
+		setlinebuf(this->file);
+
 	if (!isatty(fileno(this->file)))
 		this->colors = false;
 
@@ -355,8 +358,6 @@ impl_init(const struct spa_handle_factory *factory,
 
 	spa_log_debug(&this->log, NAME " %p: initialized", this);
 
-	setlinebuf(this->file);
-
 	return 0;
 }