diff --git a/lib/util/debug.c b/lib/util/debug.c
index 9a6d30449b8..b0a78823fcb 100644
--- a/lib/util/debug.c
+++ b/lib/util/debug.c
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ static struct {
 } state = {
 	.settings = {
 		.timestamp_logs = true
-	}
+	},
+	.fd = 2 /* stderr by default */
 };
 
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- **