diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index c78c6020..5ecf927c 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -52,18 +52,21 @@ func main() {
 		event.NewGetValMessageFromPeer,
 	}
 
-	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+
+	flagDebug := flag.Bool("debug", false, "turn on extra logging. WARNING: THIS MAY EXPOSE PRIVATE INFORMATION IN CONSOLE OUTPUT!")
+	flagLocal := flag.Bool("local", false, "load user interface from the local folder \"qml\" instead of the built-in UI")
+	flagService := flag.Bool("service", false, "run this process as an android service")
+	flagClientUI := flag.Bool("clientui", false, "start the UI as a client of a service app instead of a full app")
+	flagConsole := flag.Bool("console", false, "on windows, force logging to console instead of file")
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && !*flagConsole {
 		filelogger, err := log.NewFile(log.LevelInfo, "cwtch_log.txt")
 		if err == nil {
 			log.SetStd(filelogger)
 		}
 	}
 	log.Infoln("ui main()\n")
-	flagDebug := flag.Bool("debug", false, "turn on extra logging. WARNING: THIS MAY EXPOSE PRIVATE INFORMATION IN CONSOLE OUTPUT!")
-	flagLocal := flag.Bool("local", false, "load user interface from the local folder \"qml\" instead of the built-in UI")
-	flagService := flag.Bool("service", false, "run this process as an android service")
-	flagClientUI := flag.Bool("clientui", false, "start the UI as a client of a service app instead of a full app")
-	flag.Parse()
 
 	if *flagDebug {
 		log.SetLevel(log.LevelDebug)