diff --git a/in/wicd=wpath.py.in b/in/wicd=wpath.py.in
index d1fbbc1..b441ba5 100755
--- a/in/wicd=wpath.py.in
+++ b/in/wicd=wpath.py.in
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ initfile = '%INITFILE%'
 # stores only the file name, i.e. wicd
 initfilename = '%INITFILENAME%'
 wicd_group = '%WICDGROUP%'
+log_group = '%LOGGROUP%'
+log_perms = '%LOGPERMS%'
 
 # BOOLEANS
 no_install_pmutils = %NO_INSTALL_PMUTILS%
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c2f67cc..13508b8 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -242,6 +242,8 @@ class configure(Command):
             self.no_install_acpi = True
         elif self.distro in ['debian']:
             self.wicdgroup = "netdev"
+            self.loggroup = "adm"
+            self.logperms = "0640"
             self.init = '/etc/init.d/'
             self.initfile = 'init/debian/wicd'
         elif self.distro in ['arch']:
diff --git a/wicd/wicd-daemon.py b/wicd/wicd-daemon.py
index 24289ed..a04a3d4 100644
--- a/wicd/wicd-daemon.py
+++ b/wicd/wicd-daemon.py
@@ -1671,9 +1671,17 @@ def main(argv):
         output = ManagedStdio(logpath)
         if os.path.exists(logpath):
             try:
-                os.chmod(logpath, 0600)
+                os.chmod(logpath, wpath.log_perms)
             except:
-                print 'unable to chmod log file to 0600'
+                print 'unable to chmod log file to %s' % wpath.log_perms
+
+            try:
+                if wpath.log_group:
+                    import grp
+                    group = grp.getgrnam(wpath.log_group)
+                    os.chown(logpath, 0, group[2])
+            except:
+                print 'unable to chown log file to %s' % group[2]
 
     if redirect_stdout: sys.stdout = output
     if redirect_stderr: sys.stderr = output