diff --git a/src/core/model/log.cc b/src/core/model/log.cc
index 775558d32..206f571d7 100644
--- a/src/core/model/log.cc
+++ b/src/core/model/log.cc
@@ -181,11 +181,17 @@ LogComponent::EnvVarCheck()
         std::tie(found, value) = EnvironmentVariable::Get("NS_LOG", "***", ":");
     }
 
-    if (!found || value.empty())
+    if (!found)
     {
         return;
     }
 
+    if (value.empty())
+    {
+        // Default is enable all levels, all prefixes
+        value = "**";
+    }
+
     // Got a value, might have flags
     int level = 0;
     StringVector flags = SplitString(value, "|");