diff --git a/usr.bin/logger/logger.c b/usr.bin/logger/logger.c
index 7b1dd3136c40..44aa8ed3bae1 100644
--- a/usr.bin/logger/logger.c
+++ b/usr.bin/logger/logger.c
@@ -181,8 +181,10 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		err(1, "Unable to contact Casper");
 	caph_cache_catpages();
 	caph_cache_tzdata();
-	if (caph_enter() < 0)
-		err(1, "Unable to enter capability mode");
+	if (nsock == 0) {
+		if (caph_enter() < 0)
+			err(1, "Unable to enter capability mode");
+	}
 	capsyslog = cap_service_open(capcas, "system.syslog");
 	if (capsyslog == NULL)
 		err(1, "Unable to open system.syslog service");