diff --git a/thirdparty/eventlog/log.go b/thirdparty/eventlog/log.go
index 6fab7383c..298350aae 100644
--- a/thirdparty/eventlog/log.go
+++ b/thirdparty/eventlog/log.go
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ func (el *eventLogger) EventBegin(ctx context.Context, event string, metadata ..
 
 func (el *eventLogger) Event(ctx context.Context, event string, metadata ...Loggable) {
 
+	// short circuit if theres nothing to write to
+	if !WriterGroup.Active() {
+		return
+	}
+
 	// Collect loggables for later logging
 	var loggables []Loggable
 
diff --git a/thirdparty/eventlog/writer.go b/thirdparty/eventlog/writer.go
index 5397fc685..ceab99e6c 100644
--- a/thirdparty/eventlog/writer.go
+++ b/thirdparty/eventlog/writer.go
@@ -29,3 +29,10 @@ func (mw *MirrorWriter) AddWriter(w io.Writer) {
 	mw.writers = append(mw.writers, w)
 	mw.lk.Unlock()
 }
+
+func (mw *MirrorWriter) Active() (active bool) {
+	mw.lk.Lock()
+	active = len(mw.writers) > 0
+	mw.lk.Unlock()
+	return
+}