diff --git a/appdaemon/adapi.py b/appdaemon/adapi.py
index e1292a575..6309f6170 100644
--- a/appdaemon/adapi.py
+++ b/appdaemon/adapi.py
@@ -255,8 +255,11 @@ def log(
         # Its a user defined log
         logger = self.logger if log is None else self.get_user_log(log)
 
+        if ascii_encode is None:
+            ascii_encode = self.AD.config.ascii_encode
+
         kwargs = dict(
-            ascii_encode=ascii_encode or self.AD.config.ascii_encode,
+            ascii_encode=ascii_encode,
             stack_info=stack_info,
             stacklevel=stacklevel,
             extra=extra,