diff --git a/log/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/log/core/internal/LogServiceImpl.java b/log/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/log/core/internal/LogServiceImpl.java
index bf0eb762034..91177bda41d 100644
--- a/log/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/log/core/internal/LogServiceImpl.java
+++ b/log/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/log/core/internal/LogServiceImpl.java
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ public void setLevel(String logger, String level) {
             cfg.update(props);
         } catch (IOException e) {
             throw new RuntimeException("Error writing log config to config admin", e);
+        } catch (UnsupportedOperationException e) {
+            // ignore because it can only happen in the case of static distribution
         }
     }