diff --git a/modules/core.py b/modules/core.py
index 8c2e396..2b1717e 100644
--- a/modules/core.py
+++ b/modules/core.py
@@ -756,11 +756,21 @@ use_zulu_time = false
         Configures the logging system based on settings in the config file.
         Sets up console and file handlers, formatters, and log levels for
         both the bot and the underlying meshcore library.
+        If [Logging] section is missing, uses defaults (console/journal only, no file).
         """
-        log_level = getattr(logging, self.config.get('Logging', 'log_level', fallback='INFO'))
-        
+        if self.config.has_section('Logging'):
+            log_level = getattr(logging, self.config.get('Logging', 'log_level', fallback='INFO'))
+            colored_output = self.config.getboolean('Logging', 'colored_output', fallback=True)
+            log_file = self.config.get('Logging', 'log_file', fallback='meshcore_bot.log')
+            meshcore_log_level = getattr(logging, self.config.get('Logging', 'meshcore_log_level', fallback='INFO'))
+        else:
+            log_level = logging.INFO
+            colored_output = True
+            log_file = ''  # Console/journal only when no [Logging] section
+            meshcore_log_level = logging.INFO
+
         # Create formatter
-        if self.config.getboolean('Logging', 'colored_output', fallback=True):
+        if colored_output:
             formatter = colorlog.ColoredFormatter(
                 '%(log_color)s%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s',
                 datefmt='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S',
@@ -791,8 +801,6 @@ use_zulu_time = false
         self.logger.addHandler(console_handler)
         
         # File handler
-        log_file = self.config.get('Logging', 'log_file', fallback='meshcore_bot.log')
-        
         # Strip whitespace and check if empty
         log_file = log_file.strip() if log_file else ''
         
@@ -824,8 +832,6 @@ use_zulu_time = false
         self.logger.propagate = False
         
         # Configure meshcore library logging (separate from bot logging)
-        meshcore_log_level = getattr(logging, self.config.get('Logging', 'meshcore_log_level', fallback='INFO'))
-        
         # Configure all possible meshcore-related loggers
         meshcore_loggers = [
             'meshcore',
diff --git a/modules/service_plugins/map_uploader_service.py b/modules/service_plugins/map_uploader_service.py
index 184fc76..e5392f2 100644
--- a/modules/service_plugins/map_uploader_service.py
+++ b/modules/service_plugins/map_uploader_service.py
@@ -87,7 +87,9 @@ class MapUploaderService(BaseServicePlugin):
         if not bot_formatter:
             try:
                 import colorlog
-                if bot.config.getboolean('Logging', 'colored_output', fallback=True):
+                colored = (bot.config.getboolean('Logging', 'colored_output', fallback=True)
+                           if bot.config.has_section('Logging') else True)
+                if colored:
                     bot_formatter = colorlog.ColoredFormatter(
                         '%(log_color)s%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s',
                         datefmt='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S',
@@ -115,8 +117,9 @@ class MapUploaderService(BaseServicePlugin):
         console_handler.setFormatter(bot_formatter)
         self.logger.addHandler(console_handler)
         
-        # Also add file handler to write to the same log file as the bot
-        log_file = bot.config.get('Logging', 'log_file', fallback='meshcore_bot.log')
+        # Also add file handler to write to the same log file as the bot (skip if no [Logging] section)
+        log_file = (bot.config.get('Logging', 'log_file', fallback='meshcore_bot.log')
+                    if bot.config.has_section('Logging') else '')
         if log_file:
             # Resolve log file path (relative paths resolved from bot root, absolute paths used as-is)
             log_file = resolve_path(log_file, bot.bot_root)
diff --git a/modules/service_plugins/packet_capture_service.py b/modules/service_plugins/packet_capture_service.py
index b7a3313..0478078 100644
--- a/modules/service_plugins/packet_capture_service.py
+++ b/modules/service_plugins/packet_capture_service.py
@@ -83,7 +83,9 @@ class PacketCaptureService(BaseServicePlugin):
             if not bot_formatter:
                 try:
                     import colorlog
-                    if bot.config.getboolean('Logging', 'colored_output', fallback=True):
+                    colored = (bot.config.getboolean('Logging', 'colored_output', fallback=True)
+                               if bot.config.has_section('Logging') else True)
+                    if colored:
                         bot_formatter = colorlog.ColoredFormatter(
                             '%(log_color)s%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s',
                             datefmt='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S',