diff --git a/core/AmConfig.cpp b/core/AmConfig.cpp
index 806708f5..5d7a3bfe 100644
--- a/core/AmConfig.cpp
+++ b/core/AmConfig.cpp
@@ -156,6 +156,11 @@ int AmConfig::readConfiguration()
   // take values from global configuration file
   // they will be overwritten by command line args
 
+
+  if (cfg.hasParameter("syslog_facility")) {
+    set_log_facility(cfg.getParameter("syslog_facility").c_str());
+  }
+
   // plugin_config_path
   ModConfigPath = cfg.getParameter("plugin_config_path",ModConfigPath);
 
diff --git a/core/etc/sems.conf.sample b/core/etc/sems.conf.sample
index d56371bc..8a4a4625 100644
--- a/core/etc/sems.conf.sample
+++ b/core/etc/sems.conf.sample
@@ -37,6 +37,18 @@ stderr=no
 #   (same as -D)
 loglevel=2
 
+# optional parameter: syslog_facility={DAEMON|USER|LOCAL[0-7]}
+#
+# - sets the log facility that is used for syslog. Using this,
+#   the log can for example be filtered into a special file 
+#   by the syslog daemon.
+#
+# Default: DAEMON
+#
+# Example:
+# syslog_facility=LOCAL0
+
+
 # optional parameter: application
 # 
 # This config value controls which application is to be 
diff --git a/core/log.cpp b/core/log.cpp
index 088e36e4..02f978a4 100644
--- a/core/log.cpp
+++ b/core/log.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@
 
 int log_level=L_INFO;
 int log_stderr=0;
+
+/* log facility (see syslog(3)) */
+int log_facility=LOG_DAEMON;
+
 vector<AmLoggingFacility*> log_hooks;
 
 
@@ -53,10 +57,42 @@ inline const char* level2txt(int level)
 
 void init_log()
 {
-  openlog(LOG_NAME, LOG_PID|LOG_CONS,L_FAC);
+  openlog(LOG_NAME, LOG_PID|LOG_CONS,log_facility);
   setlogmask( -1 );
 }
 
+void set_log_facility(const char* facility) {
+  int new_facility = -1;
+  if (!strcmp(facility, "DAEMON")){
+    new_facility = LOG_DAEMON;
+  } else if (!strcmp(facility, "USER")) {
+    new_facility = LOG_USER;
+  } else if (strlen(facility)==6 && 
+	     !strncmp(facility, "LOCAL", 5) &&
+	     facility[5]-'0' < 8) {
+    switch (facility[5]) {
+    case '0': new_facility = LOG_LOCAL0; break;
+    case '1': new_facility = LOG_LOCAL1; break;
+    case '2': new_facility = LOG_LOCAL2; break;
+    case '3': new_facility = LOG_LOCAL3; break;
+    case '4': new_facility = LOG_LOCAL4; break;
+    case '5': new_facility = LOG_LOCAL5; break;
+    case '6': new_facility = LOG_LOCAL6; break;
+    case '7': new_facility = LOG_LOCAL7; break;
+    }
+  } else {
+    ERROR("unknown syslog facility '%s'\n", 
+	  facility);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (new_facility != log_facility) {
+    log_facility = new_facility;
+    closelog();
+    init_log();
+  }
+}
+
 void dprint(int level, const char* fct, char* file, int line, char* fmt, ...)
 {
   va_list ap;
diff --git a/core/log.h b/core/log.h
index 348c920a..c02e0176 100644
--- a/core/log.h
+++ b/core/log.h
@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@ extern "C" {
 #define L_INFO   2
 #define L_DBG    3
 
-  /* log facility (see syslog(3)) */
-#define L_FAC  LOG_DAEMON
   /* priority at which we log */
 #define DPRINT_PRIO LOG_DEBUG
 
@@ -49,7 +47,10 @@ extern "C" {
   extern int log_level;
   extern int log_stderr;
 
+  extern int log_facility;
+
   void init_log();
+  void set_log_facility(const char* facility);
 
   void dprint (int level, const char* fct, char* file, int line, char* fmt, ...);
   void log_print (int level, char* fmt, ...);
@@ -74,16 +75,16 @@ extern "C" {
 		  else {\
 		      switch(level){\
 		      case L_ERR:\
-			  syslog(LOG_ERR | L_FAC, "Error: (%s)(%s)(%i): " fmt, __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args);\
+			  syslog(LOG_ERR, "Error: (%s)(%s)(%i): " fmt, __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args);\
 			  break;\
 		      case L_WARN:\
-			  syslog(LOG_WARNING | L_FAC, "Warning: (%s)(%s)(%i): " fmt, __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args);\
+			  syslog(LOG_WARNING, "Warning: (%s)(%s)(%i): " fmt, __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args);\
 			  break;\
 		      case L_INFO:\
-			  syslog(LOG_INFO | L_FAC, "Info: (%s)(%s)(%i): " fmt, __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args);\
+			  syslog(LOG_INFO, "Info: (%s)(%s)(%i): " fmt, __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args);\
 			  break;\
 		      case L_DBG:\
-			  syslog(LOG_DEBUG | L_FAC, "Debug: (%s)(%s)(%i): " fmt, __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args);\
+			  syslog(LOG_DEBUG, "Debug: (%s)(%s)(%i): " fmt, __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args);\
 			  break;\
 		      }\
 		  }\