diff --git a/WHATS_NEW b/WHATS_NEW
index 4f258003b..c609cef1b 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW
+++ b/WHATS_NEW
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 2.02.39 -
 ================================
+  Don't call openlog for every debug line output by clvmd.
   Add --force to lvextend and lvresize.
   Fix vgchange to not activate mirror leg and log volumes directly.
   Fix test directory clean up in make distclean.
diff --git a/daemons/clvmd/clvmd.c b/daemons/clvmd/clvmd.c
index 05a203138..446b16f91 100644
--- a/daemons/clvmd/clvmd.c
+++ b/daemons/clvmd/clvmd.c
@@ -182,8 +182,10 @@ void debuglog(const char *fmt, ...)
 		va_end(ap);
 	}
 	if (debug == DEBUG_SYSLOG) {
-		if (!syslog_init)
+		if (!syslog_init) {
 			openlog("clvmd", LOG_PID, LOG_DAEMON);
+			syslog_init = 1;
+		}
 
 		va_start(ap,fmt);
 		vsyslog(LOG_DEBUG, fmt, ap);