diff --git a/libraries/logger/logging-manager.coffee b/libraries/logger/logging-manager.coffee
index 509dbcc026..a7d4e6d27b 100644
--- a/libraries/logger/logging-manager.coffee
+++ b/libraries/logger/logging-manager.coffee
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@ request = require('request')
 
 module.exports = Logger =
 	initialize: (name) ->
-		@defaultLevel = process.env['LOG_LEVEL'] or if process.env["NODE_ENV"] == 'production' then "warn" else  "debug"
+		isProduction = process.env['NODE_ENV']?.toLowerCase() == 'production'
+		@defaultLevel = process.env['LOG_LEVEL'] or if isProduction then "warn" else  "debug"
 		@loggerName = name
 		@logger = bunyan.createLogger
 			name: name
 			serializers: bunyan.stdSerializers
 			level: @defaultLevel
-		if process.env["NODE_ENV"] == 'production'
+		if isProduction
 			# check for log level override on startup
 			@.checkLogLevel()
 			# re-check log level every minute
diff --git a/libraries/logger/package.json b/libraries/logger/package.json
index 69f5260d40..96d8d7dd8a 100644
--- a/libraries/logger/package.json
+++ b/libraries/logger/package.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     "type": "git",
     "url": "http://github.com/sharelatex/logger-sharelatex.git"
   },
-  "version": "1.5.9",
+  "version": "1.6.0",
   "scripts": {
     "test": "mocha --require coffee-script/register test/**/*.coffee"
   },