diff --git a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.cpp b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.cpp
index 3ce56266ec..c425a239dd 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.cpp
@@ -96,9 +96,6 @@ AssignmentClientApp::AssignmentClientApp(int argc, char* argv[]) :
     const QCommandLineOption logDirectoryOption(ASSIGNMENT_LOG_DIRECTORY, "directory to store logs", "log-directory");
     parser.addOption(logDirectoryOption);
 
-    const QCommandLineOption noLogFileOption(ASSIGNMENT_NO_CHILD_LOG_FILE_OPTION, "disable writing of child assignment-client output to file");
-    parser.addOption(noLogFileOption);
-
     if (!parser.parse(QCoreApplication::arguments())) {
         qCritical() << parser.errorText() << endl;
         parser.showHelp();
@@ -142,17 +139,10 @@ AssignmentClientApp::AssignmentClientApp(int argc, char* argv[]) :
         httpStatusPort = parser.value(httpStatusPortOption).toUShort();
     }
 
-    bool wantsChildFileLogging = false;
-    QDir logDirectory { "." };
+    QString logDirectory;
 
-    if (!parser.isSet(noLogFileOption)) {
-        wantsChildFileLogging = true;
-
-        if (parser.isSet(logDirectoryOption)) {
-            logDirectory = parser.value(logDirectoryOption);
-        } else {
-            logDirectory = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::DataLocation);
-        }
+    if (parser.isSet(logDirectoryOption)) {
+        logDirectory = parser.value(logDirectoryOption);
     }
 
 
@@ -226,8 +216,7 @@ AssignmentClientApp::AssignmentClientApp(int argc, char* argv[]) :
         AssignmentClientMonitor* monitor =  new AssignmentClientMonitor(numForks, minForks, maxForks,
                                                                         requestAssignmentType, assignmentPool,
                                                                         listenPort, walletUUID, assignmentServerHostname,
-                                                                        assignmentServerPort, httpStatusPort, logDirectory,
-                                                                        wantsChildFileLogging);
+                                                                        assignmentServerPort, httpStatusPort, logDirectory);
         monitor->setParent(this);
         connect(this, &QCoreApplication::aboutToQuit, monitor, &AssignmentClientMonitor::aboutToQuit);
     } else {
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.h b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.h
index ce3c3a76fa..37d3b9cc1d 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientApp.h
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ const QString ASSIGNMENT_MAX_FORKS_OPTION = "max";
 const QString ASSIGNMENT_CLIENT_MONITOR_PORT_OPTION = "monitor-port";
 const QString ASSIGNMENT_HTTP_STATUS_PORT = "http-status-port";
 const QString ASSIGNMENT_LOG_DIRECTORY = "log-directory";
-const QString ASSIGNMENT_NO_CHILD_LOG_FILE_OPTION = "no-child-log-files";
 
 class AssignmentClientApp : public QCoreApplication {
     Q_OBJECT
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientMonitor.cpp b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientMonitor.cpp
index 7c9bb47467..322fe6e57e 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientMonitor.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientMonitor.cpp
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ AssignmentClientMonitor::AssignmentClientMonitor(const unsigned int numAssignmen
                                                  const unsigned int maxAssignmentClientForks,
                                                  Assignment::Type requestAssignmentType, QString assignmentPool,
                                                  quint16 listenPort, QUuid walletUUID, QString assignmentServerHostname,
-                                                 quint16 assignmentServerPort, quint16 httpStatusServerPort, QDir logDirectory,
-                                                 bool wantsChildFileLogging) :
-    _logDirectory(logDirectory),
+                                                 quint16 assignmentServerPort, quint16 httpStatusServerPort, QString logDirectory) :
     _httpManager(QHostAddress::LocalHost, httpStatusServerPort, "", this),
     _numAssignmentClientForks(numAssignmentClientForks),
     _minAssignmentClientForks(minAssignmentClientForks),
@@ -44,12 +42,16 @@ AssignmentClientMonitor::AssignmentClientMonitor(const unsigned int numAssignmen
     _assignmentPool(assignmentPool),
     _walletUUID(walletUUID),
     _assignmentServerHostname(assignmentServerHostname),
-    _assignmentServerPort(assignmentServerPort),
-    _wantsChildFileLogging(wantsChildFileLogging)
+    _assignmentServerPort(assignmentServerPort)
 
 {
     qDebug() << "_requestAssignmentType =" << _requestAssignmentType;
 
+    if (!logDirectory.isEmpty()) {
+        _wantsChildFileLogging = true;
+        _logDirectory = QDir(logDirectory);
+    }
+
     // start the Logging class with the parent's target name
     LogHandler::getInstance().setTargetName(ASSIGNMENT_CLIENT_MONITOR_TARGET_NAME);
 
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientMonitor.h b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientMonitor.h
index c04294d5b3..a7f69a559b 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientMonitor.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/AssignmentClientMonitor.h
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ public:
     AssignmentClientMonitor(const unsigned int numAssignmentClientForks, const unsigned int minAssignmentClientForks,
                             const unsigned int maxAssignmentClientForks, Assignment::Type requestAssignmentType,
                             QString assignmentPool, quint16 listenPort, QUuid walletUUID, QString assignmentServerHostname,
-                            quint16 assignmentServerPort, quint16 httpStatusServerPort, QDir logDirectory,
-                            bool wantsChildFileLogging);
+                            quint16 assignmentServerPort, quint16 httpStatusServerPort, QString logDirectory);
     ~AssignmentClientMonitor();
 
     void stopChildProcesses();
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ private:
 
     QMap<qint64, ACProcess> _childProcesses;
 
-    bool _wantsChildFileLogging;
+    bool _wantsChildFileLogging { false };
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_AssignmentClientMonitor_h