diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 46f5189b8..911d91a10 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@
 .corso_test.toml
 .corso.toml
 
+# Logging
+.corso.log
+
 # Build directories
 /bin
 /docker/bin
diff --git a/src/cli/cli.go b/src/cli/cli.go
index f202e4953..77a03b1a7 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.go
+++ b/src/cli/cli.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/alcionai/clues"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/cli/backup"
 	"github.com/alcionai/corso/src/cli/config"
@@ -51,6 +52,13 @@ func preRun(cc *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		flagSl = append(flagSl, f)
 	}
 
+	avoidTheseCommands := []string{
+		"corso", "env", "help", "backup", "details", "list", "restore", "delete", "repo", "init", "connect",
+	}
+	if len(logger.LogFile) > 0 && !slices.Contains(avoidTheseCommands, cc.Use) {
+		print.Info(cc.Context(), "Logging to file: "+logger.LogFile)
+	}
+
 	log.Infow("cli command", "command", cc.CommandPath(), "flags", flagSl, "version", version.CurrentVersion())
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/src/pkg/logger/logger.go b/src/pkg/logger/logger.go
index 923af44c8..abbce9119 100644
--- a/src/pkg/logger/logger.go
+++ b/src/pkg/logger/logger.go
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ var (
 
 	DebugAPI       bool
 	readableOutput bool
+
+	LogFile string
 )
 
 type logLevel int
@@ -118,6 +120,7 @@ func PreloadLoggingFlags() (string, string) {
 	}
 
 	if logfile != "stdout" && logfile != "stderr" {
+		LogFile = logfile
 		logdir := filepath.Dir(logfile)
 		print.Info(context.Background(), "Logging to file: "+logfile)