diff --git a/include/opendht/log.h b/include/opendht/log.h
index 2c69aede..220eaa70 100644
--- a/include/opendht/log.h
+++ b/include/opendht/log.h
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@
 #include "dhtrunner.h"
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include <fstream>
-#include <chrono>
 
 namespace dht {
 namespace log {
@@ -73,5 +71,8 @@ enableFileLogging(dht::DhtRunner &dht, const std::string &path);
 OPENDHT_PUBLIC void
 disableLogging(dht::DhtRunner &dht);
 
+OPENDHT_PUBLIC void
+enableSyslog(dht::DhtRunner &dht, const char* name);
+
 } /* log */
 } /* dht  */
diff --git a/src/log.cpp b/src/log.cpp
index 74ec0115..6b63a610 100644
--- a/src/log.cpp
+++ b/src/log.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,13 @@
 
 #include "log.h"
 
+#ifndef _WIN32
+#include <syslog.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <fstream>
+#include <chrono>
+
 namespace dht {
 namespace log {
 
@@ -37,9 +44,9 @@ printLog(std::ostream& s, char const *m, va_list args) {
     using namespace std::chrono;
     using log_precision = microseconds;
     constexpr auto den = log_precision::period::den;
-    auto micro = duration_cast<log_precision>(steady_clock::now().time_since_epoch()).count();
-    s << "[" << std::setfill('0') << std::setw(6) << micro / den << "."
-      << std::setfill('0') << std::setw(6) << micro % den << "]" << " ";
+    auto num = duration_cast<log_precision>(steady_clock::now().time_since_epoch()).count();
+    s << "[" << std::setfill('0') << std::setw(6) << num / den << "."
+             << std::setfill('0') << std::setw(6) << num % den << "]" << " ";
 
     // write log
     s.write(buffer.data(), std::min((size_t) ret, buffer.size()));
@@ -77,6 +84,32 @@ enableFileLogging(dht::DhtRunner &dht, const std::string &path) {
     );
 }
 
+OPENDHT_PUBLIC void
+enableSyslog(dht::DhtRunner &dht, const char* name) {
+#ifndef _WIN32
+    struct Syslog {
+        Syslog(const char* n) {
+            openlog(n, LOG_NDELAY, LOG_USER);
+        }
+        ~Syslog() {
+            closelog();
+        }
+    };
+    // syslog is global. Existing instance must be reused.
+    static std::weak_ptr<Syslog> opened_logfile;
+    auto logfile = opened_logfile.lock();
+    if (not logfile) {
+        logfile = std::make_shared<Syslog>(name);
+        opened_logfile = logfile;
+    }
+    dht.setLoggers(
+        [logfile](char const *m, va_list args) { vsyslog(LOG_ERR, m, args); },
+        [logfile](char const *m, va_list args) { vsyslog(LOG_WARNING, m, args); },
+        [logfile](char const *m, va_list args) { vsyslog(LOG_INFO, m, args); }
+    );
+#endif
+}
+
 void
 disableLogging(dht::DhtRunner &dht) {
     dht.setLoggers(dht::NOLOG, dht::NOLOG, dht::NOLOG);
diff --git a/tools/dhtnode.cpp b/tools/dhtnode.cpp
index 5e989ad9..30ac421b 100644
--- a/tools/dhtnode.cpp
+++ b/tools/dhtnode.cpp
@@ -370,7 +370,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
         dht->run(params.port, crt, true, params.network);
 
         if (params.log) {
-            if (not params.logfile.empty())
+            if (params.syslog or (params.daemonize and params.logfile.empty()))
+                log::enableSyslog(*dht, "dhtnode");
+            else if (not params.logfile.empty())
                 log::enableFileLogging(*dht, params.logfile);
             else
                 log::enableLogging(*dht);
diff --git a/tools/tools_common.h b/tools/tools_common.h
index 291e6495..10b6f9a9 100644
--- a/tools/tools_common.h
+++ b/tools/tools_common.h
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ struct dht_params {
     bool help {false}; // print help and exit
     bool log {false};
     std::string logfile {};
+    bool syslog {false};
     in_port_t port {0};
     dht::NetId network {0};
     bool generate_identity {false};
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ static const constexpr struct option long_options[] = {
    {"verbose",    no_argument      , nullptr, 'v'},
    {"daemonize",  no_argument      , nullptr, 'd'},
    {"logfile",    required_argument, nullptr, 'l'},
+   {"syslog",     no_argument      , nullptr, 'L'},
    {nullptr,      0                , nullptr,  0}
 };
 
@@ -161,6 +163,10 @@ parseArgs(int argc, char **argv) {
         case 'l':
             params.logfile = optarg;
             break;
+        case 'L':
+            params.log = true;
+            params.syslog = true;
+            break;
         case 'v':
             params.log = true;
             break;