diff --git a/zproject/dev_settings.py b/zproject/dev_settings.py
index 814cc5f758..c51917a98e 100644
--- a/zproject/dev_settings.py
+++ b/zproject/dev_settings.py
@@ -24,3 +24,4 @@ OPEN_REALM_CREATION = True
 TERMS_OF_SERVICE = 'zproject/terms.md.template'
 
 SAVE_FRONTEND_STACKTRACES = True
+EVENT_LOGS_ENABLED = True
diff --git a/zproject/local_settings.py b/zproject/local_settings.py
index 09c5b11e7c..cdbf2901a4 100644
--- a/zproject/local_settings.py
+++ b/zproject/local_settings.py
@@ -146,3 +146,5 @@ EXTRA_INSTALLED_APPS = [
     'zilencer',
     'corporate',
 ]
+
+EVENT_LOGS_ENABLED = True
diff --git a/zproject/settings.py b/zproject/settings.py
index ec018d8d07..63e99beb1e 100644
--- a/zproject/settings.py
+++ b/zproject/settings.py
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {'TWITTER_CONSUMER_KEY': '',
                     'MAX_FILE_UPLOAD_SIZE': 25,
                     'ERROR_REPORTING': True,
                     'STAGING_ERROR_NOTIFICATIONS': False,
+                    'EVENT_LOGS_ENABLED': False,
                     'SAVE_FRONTEND_STACKTRACES': False,
                     'JWT_AUTH_KEYS': {},
                     'NAME_CHANGES_DISABLED': False,
@@ -822,10 +823,10 @@ ZULIP_PATHS = [
 
 # The Event log basically logs most significant database changes,
 # which can be useful for debugging.
-if VOYAGER:
-    EVENT_LOG_DIR = None
-else:
+if EVENT_LOGS_ENABLED:
     ZULIP_PATHS.append(("EVENT_LOG_DIR", "/home/zulip/logs/event_log"))
+else:
+    EVENT_LOG_DIR = None
 
 for (var, path) in ZULIP_PATHS:
     if DEVELOPMENT: