diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b0d2e01a..27d1cc96 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -136,13 +136,13 @@ These options change how OpenVPN itself works.
 | openvpn_client_config_dir | string  |         | ccd     | Path of `client-config-dir`                          |
 | openvpn_client_configs    | dict    |         | {}      | Dict of settings custom client configs               |
 
-## Logrotate
+## Logrotate/Syslog
 Set your own custom logrotate options
-| Variable                 | Type   | Choices | Default                                                                                                     | Comment                                                                                          |
-|--------------------------|--------|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-| openvpn_log_dir          | string |         | /var/log                                                                                                    | Set location of openvpn log files. This parameter is a part of `log-append` configuration value. |
-| openvpn_log_file         | string |         | openvpn.log                                                                                                 | Set log filename. This parameter is a part of `log-append` configuration value.                  |
-| openvpn_logrotate_config | string |         | rotate 4<br />weekly<br />missingok<br />notifempty<br />sharedscripts<br />copytruncate<br />delaycompress | Configure logrotate script.                                                                      |
+| Variable                 | Type   | Choices | Default                                                                                                     | Comment                                                                                                   |
+|--------------------------|--------|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| openvpn_log_dir          | string |         | /var/log                                                                                                    | Set location of openvpn log files. This parameter is a part of `log-append` configuration value.          |
+| openvpn_log_file         | string |         | openvpn.log                                                                                                 | Set log filename. This parameter is a part of `log-append` configuration value. If empty, syslog is used. |
+| openvpn_logrotate_config | string |         | rotate 4<br />weekly<br />missingok<br />notifempty<br />sharedscripts<br />copytruncate<br />delaycompress | Configure logrotate script.                                                                               |
 
 ## Packaging
 This role pulls in a bunch of different packages. Override the names as necessary.
diff --git a/templates/server.conf.j2 b/templates/server.conf.j2
index 09b2c547..b430164e 100644
--- a/templates/server.conf.j2
+++ b/templates/server.conf.j2
@@ -91,7 +91,12 @@ group {{ openvpn_service_group }}
 
 status status-{{ openvpn_config_file }}.log
 status-version {{ openvpn_status_version }}
+
+{% if openvpn_log_file is defined %}
 log-append {{ openvpn_log_dir }}/{{ openvpn_log_file }}
+{% else %}
+syslog openvpn
+{% endif %}
 verb 3
 
 {% if openvpn_verify_cn|bool %}