diff --git a/crtools.c b/crtools.c
index b68023618..ab885e6fe 100644
--- a/crtools.c
+++ b/crtools.c
@@ -285,14 +285,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (work_dir == NULL)
 		work_dir = imgs_dir;
 
-	log_set_loglevel(log_level);
-
-	if (log_init(opts.output))
-		return -1;
-
-	if (opts.img_parent)
-		pr_info("Will do snapshot from %s\n", opts.img_parent);
-
 	if (optind >= argc)
 		goto usage;
 
@@ -310,6 +302,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	log_set_loglevel(log_level);
+
+	if (log_init(opts.output))
+		return -1;
+
+	if (opts.img_parent)
+		pr_info("Will do snapshot from %s\n", opts.img_parent);
+
 	if (!strcmp(argv[optind], "dump")) {
 		if (!tree_id)
 			goto opt_pid_missing;