diff --git a/synapse/app/appservice.py b/synapse/app/appservice.py
index 1900930053..83ee3e3ce3 100644
--- a/synapse/app/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/app/appservice.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.appservice"
 
-    setup_logging(config.worker_log_config, config.worker_log_file)
+    setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=True)
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/client_reader.py b/synapse/app/client_reader.py
index 4d081eccd1..7ed0de4117 100644
--- a/synapse/app/client_reader.py
+++ b/synapse/app/client_reader.py
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.client_reader"
 
-    setup_logging(config.worker_log_config, config.worker_log_file)
+    setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=True)
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/federation_reader.py b/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
index 90a4816753..ca742de6b2 100644
--- a/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
+++ b/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.federation_reader"
 
-    setup_logging(config.worker_log_config, config.worker_log_file)
+    setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=True)
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/federation_sender.py b/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
index 411e47d98d..0cf5b196e6 100644
--- a/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
+++ b/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.federation_sender"
 
-    setup_logging(config.worker_log_config, config.worker_log_file)
+    setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=True)
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index e0b87468fe..0b9d78c13c 100755
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ import gc
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
+
+import synapse.config.logger
 from synapse.config._base import ConfigError
 
 from synapse.python_dependencies import (
@@ -286,7 +288,7 @@ def setup(config_options):
         # generating config files and shouldn't try to continue.
         sys.exit(0)
 
-    config.setup_logging()
+    synapse.config.logger.setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=False)
 
     # check any extra requirements we have now we have a config
     check_requirements(config)
diff --git a/synapse/app/media_repository.py b/synapse/app/media_repository.py
index ef17b158a5..c5579d9e38 100644
--- a/synapse/app/media_repository.py
+++ b/synapse/app/media_repository.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.media_repository"
 
-    setup_logging(config.worker_log_config, config.worker_log_file)
+    setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=True)
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/pusher.py b/synapse/app/pusher.py
index 073f2c2489..b025db54d4 100644
--- a/synapse/app/pusher.py
+++ b/synapse/app/pusher.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.pusher"
 
-    setup_logging(config.worker_log_config, config.worker_log_file)
+    setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=True)
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/synchrotron.py b/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
index 3f29595256..29f075aa5f 100644
--- a/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
+++ b/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     assert config.worker_app == "synapse.app.synchrotron"
 
-    setup_logging(config.worker_log_config, config.worker_log_file)
+    setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=True)
 
     synapse.events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
diff --git a/synapse/config/logger.py b/synapse/config/logger.py
index 77ded0ad25..c76fddf118 100644
--- a/synapse/config/logger.py
+++ b/synapse/config/logger.py
@@ -118,11 +118,22 @@ class LoggingConfig(Config):
                     DEFAULT_LOG_CONFIG.substitute(log_file=config["log_file"])
                 )
 
-    def setup_logging(self):
-        setup_logging(self.log_config, self.log_file, self.verbosity)
 
+def setup_logging(config, use_worker_options=False):
+    """ Set up python logging
+
+    Args:
+        config (LoggingConfig | synapse.config.workers.WorkerConfig):
+            configuration data
+
+        use_worker_options (bool): True to use 'worker_log_config' and
+            'worker_log_file' options instead of 'log_config' and 'log_file'.
+    """
+    log_config = (config.worker_log_config if use_worker_options
+                  else config.log_config)
+    log_file = (config.worker_log_file if use_worker_options
+                else config.log_file)
 
-def setup_logging(log_config=None, log_file=None, verbosity=None):
     log_format = (
         "%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(lineno)d - %(levelname)s - %(request)s"
         " - %(message)s"
@@ -131,9 +142,9 @@ def setup_logging(log_config=None, log_file=None, verbosity=None):
 
         level = logging.INFO
         level_for_storage = logging.INFO
-        if verbosity:
+        if config.verbosity:
             level = logging.DEBUG
-            if verbosity > 1:
+            if config.verbosity > 1:
                 level_for_storage = logging.DEBUG
 
         # FIXME: we need a logging.WARN for a -q quiet option