diff --git a/optional/clamav/start.py b/optional/clamav/start.py
index c08df509..56e1bcfe 100755
--- a/optional/clamav/start.py
+++ b/optional/clamav/start.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import os
 import logging as log
 import sys
 
-log.basicConfig(stream=sys.stderr, level=os.environ["LOG_LEVEL"] if "LOG_LEVEL" in os.environ else "WARNING")
+log.basicConfig(stream=sys.stderr, level=os.environ.get("LOG_LEVEL", "WARNING"))
 logger=log.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # Bootstrap the database if clamav is running for the first time