diff --git a/Pilot/pilotTools.py b/Pilot/pilotTools.py
index d71f3baf..8433ffa6 100644
--- a/Pilot/pilotTools.py
+++ b/Pilot/pilotTools.py
@@ -1224,12 +1224,13 @@ def __initJSON2(self):
         # logger CE white list
         loggerCEsWhiteList = pilotOptions.get("RemoteLoggerCEsWhiteList", None)
         # restrict remote logging to a whitelisted CEs ([] => no restriction)
-        if not isinstance(loggerCEsWhiteList, list):
-            loggerCEsWhiteList = [elem.strip() for elem in loggerCEsWhiteList.split(",")]
         self.log.debug("JSON: Remote logging CE white list: %s" % loggerCEsWhiteList)
-        if loggerCEsWhiteList is not None and self.ceName not in loggerCEsWhiteList:
-            self.pilotLogging = False
-            self.log.debug("JSON: Remote logging disabled for this CE: %s" % self.ceName)
+        if loggerCEsWhiteList is not None:
+            if not isinstance(loggerCEsWhiteList, list):
+                loggerCEsWhiteList = [elem.strip() for elem in loggerCEsWhiteList.split(",")]
+            if self.ceName not in loggerCEsWhiteList:
+                self.pilotLogging = False
+                self.log.debug("JSON: Remote logging disabled for this CE: %s" % self.ceName)
         pilotLogLevel = pilotOptions.get("PilotLogLevel", "INFO")
         if pilotLogLevel.lower() == "debug":
             self.debugFlag = True