diff --git a/debian/debian_config_common.py b/debian/debian_config_common.py
index 92f5cba..3ce7e17 100644
--- a/debian/debian_config_common.py
+++ b/debian/debian_config_common.py
@@ -167,6 +167,13 @@ if os.path.exists('/run/systemd/journal/socket'):
         LOGGING['loggers']['']['handlers'].remove('syslog')
         LOGGING['loggers']['']['handlers'].append('journald')
 
+elif not os.path.exists('/dev/log'):
+    # if three's no syslog (for example when building a docker image), remove
+    # those loggers.
+    LOGGING['loggers']['']['handlers'].remove('syslog')
+    LOGGING['loggers']['py.warnings']['handlers'].remove('syslog_no_filter')
+
+
 ETC_DIR = '/etc/%s' % PROJECT_NAME
 VAR_DIR = '/var/lib/%s' % PROJECT_NAME