diff --git a/cmd/vspd/config.go b/cmd/vspd/config.go
index d4eb4aa2..3324b8b3 100644
--- a/cmd/vspd/config.go
+++ b/cmd/vspd/config.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/decred/dcrd/dcrutil/v4"
 	"github.com/decred/dcrd/hdkeychain/v3"
-	"github.com/decred/slog"
 	"github.com/decred/vspd/database"
 	"github.com/decred/vspd/internal/config"
 	"github.com/decred/vspd/internal/version"
@@ -76,9 +75,6 @@ type vspdConfig struct {
 	HomeDir     string `long:"homedir" no-ini:"true" description:"Path to application home directory. Used for storing VSP database and logs."`
 	ConfigFile  string `long:"configfile" no-ini:"true" description:"Path to configuration file."`
 
-	logBackend *slog.Backend
-	logLevel   slog.Level
-
 	dbPath                                    string
 	network                                   *config.Network
 	dcrdCert                                  []byte
@@ -406,19 +402,6 @@ func loadConfig() (*vspdConfig, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create data directory: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Initialize loggers and log rotation.
-	logDir := filepath.Join(cfg.HomeDir, "logs", cfg.network.Name)
-	cfg.logBackend, err = newLogBackend(logDir, appName, cfg.MaxLogSize, cfg.LogsToKeep)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to initialize logger: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	var ok bool
-	cfg.logLevel, ok = slog.LevelFromString(cfg.LogLevel)
-	if !ok {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown log level: %s", cfg.LogLevel)
-	}
-
 	// Set the database path
 	cfg.dbPath = filepath.Join(dataDir, defaultDBFilename)
 
@@ -454,9 +437,3 @@ func loadConfig() (*vspdConfig, error) {
 
 	return &cfg, nil
 }
-
-func (cfg *vspdConfig) logger(subsystem string) slog.Logger {
-	log := cfg.logBackend.Logger(subsystem)
-	log.SetLevel(cfg.logLevel)
-	return log
-}
diff --git a/cmd/vspd/main.go b/cmd/vspd/main.go
index 43033e07..b895e282 100644
--- a/cmd/vspd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/vspd/main.go
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/decred/dcrd/wire"
+	"github.com/decred/slog"
 	"github.com/decred/vspd/database"
 	"github.com/decred/vspd/internal/config"
 	"github.com/decred/vspd/internal/signal"
@@ -33,6 +35,29 @@ func main() {
 	os.Exit(run())
 }
 
+// initLogging uses the provided vspd config to create a logging backend, and
+// returns a function which can be used to create ready-to-use subsystem
+// loggers.
+func initLogging(cfg *vspdConfig) (func(subsystem string) slog.Logger, error) {
+	logDir := filepath.Join(cfg.HomeDir, "logs", cfg.network.Name)
+	backend, err := newLogBackend(logDir, "vspd", cfg.MaxLogSize, cfg.LogsToKeep)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to initialize logger: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var ok bool
+	level, ok := slog.LevelFromString(cfg.LogLevel)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown log level: %q", cfg.LogLevel)
+	}
+
+	return func(subsystem string) slog.Logger {
+		log := backend.Logger(subsystem)
+		log.SetLevel(level)
+		return log
+	}, nil
+}
+
 // run is the real main function for vspd. It is necessary to work around the
 // fact that deferred functions do not run when os.Exit() is called.
 func run() int {
@@ -43,7 +68,13 @@ func run() int {
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	log := cfg.logger("VSP")
+	makeLogger, err := initLogging(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "initLogging error: %v\n", err)
+		return 1
+	}
+
+	log := makeLogger("VSP")
 
 	// Create a context that is canceled when a shutdown request is received
 	// through an interrupt signal such as SIGINT (Ctrl+C).
@@ -66,7 +97,7 @@ func run() int {
 	}
 
 	// Open database.
-	db, err := database.Open(cfg.dbPath, cfg.logger(" DB"), maxVoteChangeRecords)
+	db, err := database.Open(cfg.dbPath, makeLogger(" DB"), maxVoteChangeRecords)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("Failed to open database: %v", err)
 		return 1
@@ -74,7 +105,7 @@ func run() int {
 	const writeBackup = true
 	defer db.Close(writeBackup)
 
-	rpcLog := cfg.logger("RPC")
+	rpcLog := makeLogger("RPC")
 
 	// Create a channel to receive blockConnected notifications from dcrd.
 	blockNotifChan := make(chan *wire.BlockHeader)
@@ -102,7 +133,7 @@ func run() int {
 		MaxVoteChangeRecords: maxVoteChangeRecords,
 		VspdVersion:          version.String(),
 	}
-	api, err := webapi.New(db, cfg.logger("API"), dcrd, wallets, apiCfg)
+	api, err := webapi.New(db, makeLogger("API"), dcrd, wallets, apiCfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("Failed to initialize webapi: %v", err)
 		return 1