diff --git a/cmd/helper.go b/cmd/helper.go
index 8182240c2..ac649987b 100644
--- a/cmd/helper.go
+++ b/cmd/helper.go
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ import (
 // parseLogLevels parses --log area:level[,...] switch into levels per log area
 func parseLogLevels() {
 	levels := viper.GetStringMapString("levels")
+	if levels == nil {
+		levels = make(map[string]string)
+	}
 
 	var level string
 	for _, kv := range strings.Split(viper.GetString("log"), ",") {