diff --git a/adept.go b/adept.go
index d7aa932..07dd6f8 100644
--- a/adept.go
+++ b/adept.go
@@ -13,8 +13,16 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
+  // load configuration via Viper
   config.LoadConfig()
 
+  // configure our app logging
+  logHandle := config.InitLogging()
+  if logHandle != nil {
+    defer logHandle.Close()
+  }
+
+  // initialize the video repository
   r := transcoder.NewRepository(viper.GetString("transcoder.repository"))
 
   // main program loop - runs infinitely until externally terminated
diff --git a/config/log.go b/config/log.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c660f84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/log.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+
+	"git.metaunix.net/BitGoblin/adept/util"
+)
+
+func InitLogging() *os.File {
+	var fileHandle *os.File = nil
+
+	if viper.GetBool("log_to_file") {
+		// open a file
+		var err error
+		fileHandle, err = os.OpenFile(util.ResolveTilde(viper.GetString("log_file")), os.O_APPEND | os.O_CREATE | os.O_RDWR, 0644)
+		if err != nil {
+		  log.Fatalf("Error opening log file: %v", err)
+		  os.Exit(1)
+		}
+
+		// set logging to file handle
+		log.SetOutput(fileHandle)
+	}
+
+	return fileHandle
+}