diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/config/logging.py b/aries_cloudagent/config/logging.py
index 9d74b0b0a7..695b680dd2 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/config/logging.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/config/logging.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def fileConfig(
         except configparser.ParsingError as e:
             raise RuntimeError(f"{fname} is invalid: {e}")
 
-    if new_file_path:
+    if new_file_path and cp.has_section("handler_timed_file_handler"):
         cp.set(
             "handler_timed_file_handler",
             "args",