diff --git a/tests/hwsim/start.sh b/tests/hwsim/start.sh
index f5e8f2777..95d129082 100755
--- a/tests/hwsim/start.sh
+++ b/tests/hwsim/start.sh
@@ -7,13 +7,11 @@ HAPD=$DIR/../../hostapd/hostapd
 HAPD_AS=$DIR/../../hostapd/hostapd
 WLANTEST=$DIR/../../wlantest/wlantest
 HLR_AUC_GW=$DIR/../../hostapd/hlr_auc_gw
+DATE="$(date +%s)"
 
 if [ -z "$LOGDIR" ] ; then
-    DATE="$(date +%s)"
     LOGDIR="$DIR/logs/$DATE"
     mkdir -p $LOGDIR
-    rm -rf $DIR/logs/current
-    ln -sf $DATE $DIR/logs/current
 else
     if [ -e $LOGDIR/alt-wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant ]; then
 	WPAS=$LOGDIR/alt-wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant
@@ -29,6 +27,11 @@ else
     fi
 fi
 
+if test -w "$DIR/logs" ; then
+    rm -rf $DIR/logs/current
+    ln -sf $DATE $DIR/logs/current
+fi
+
 if groups | tr ' ' "\n" | grep -q ^admin$; then
     GROUP=admin
 else