diff --git a/hw/xnest/Init.c b/hw/xnest/Init.c
index ccd663903..4cb0a6f55 100644
--- a/hw/xnest/Init.c
+++ b/hw/xnest/Init.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ is" without express or implied warranty.
 #include "dix/screenint_priv.h"
 #include "miext/extinit_priv.h"
 #include "os/ddx_priv.h"
+#include "os/log_priv.h"
 #include "os/osdep.h"
 
 #include "screenint.h"
diff --git a/os/log.c b/os/log.c
index c16302b86..8fca48ed6 100644
--- a/os/log.c
+++ b/os/log.c
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include <X11/Xfuncproto.h>
 #include <X11/Xos.h>
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG
+#include <syslog.h>
+#endif
+
 #include "dix/dix_priv.h"
 #include "dix/input_priv.h"
 #include "os/audit.h"
@@ -111,11 +115,16 @@ void (*OsVendorVErrorFProc) (const char *, va_list args) = NULL;
 /* Default logging parameters. */
 #define DEFAULT_LOG_VERBOSITY		0
 #define DEFAULT_LOG_FILE_VERBOSITY	3
+#define DEFAULT_SYSLOG_VERBOSITY	0
 
 static int logFileFd = -1;
 Bool xorgLogSync = FALSE;
 int xorgLogVerbosity = DEFAULT_LOG_VERBOSITY;
 int xorgLogFileVerbosity = DEFAULT_LOG_FILE_VERBOSITY;
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG
+int xorgSyslogVerbosity = DEFAULT_SYSLOG_VERBOSITY;
+const char *xorgSyslogIdent = "X";
+#endif
 
 /* Buffer to information logged before the log file is opened. */
 static char *saveBuffer = NULL;
@@ -207,6 +216,18 @@ static inline void doLogSync(void) {
 #endif
 }
 
+static void initSyslog(void) {
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG
+    char buffer[4096];
+    strcpy(buffer, xorgSyslogIdent);
+
+    snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "%s :%s", xorgSyslogIdent, (display ? display : "<>"));
+
+    /* initialize syslog */
+    openlog(buffer, LOG_PID, LOG_LOCAL1);
+#endif
+}
+
 /*
  * LogInit is called to start logging to a file.  It is also called (with
  * NULL arguments) when logging to a file is not wanted.  It must always be
@@ -264,6 +285,7 @@ LogInit(const char *fname, const char *backup)
     }
     needBuffer = FALSE;
 
+    initSyslog();
     return logFileName;
 }
 
@@ -295,6 +317,7 @@ LogSetDisplay(void)
         free(saved_log_fname);
         free(saved_log_backup);
     }
+    initSyslog();
 }
 
 void
@@ -541,6 +564,19 @@ pnprintf(char *string, int size, const char *f, ...)
     return rc;
 }
 
+static void
+LogSyslogWrite(int verb, const char *buf, size_t len, Bool end_line) {
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG
+    if (inSignalContext) // syslog() ins't signal-safe yet :(
+        return;          // shall we try syslog(2) syscall instead ?
+
+    if (verb >= 0 && xorgSyslogVerbosity < verb)
+        return;
+
+    syslog(LOG_PID, "%.*s", (int)len, buf);
+#endif
+}
+
 /* This function does the actual log message writes. It must be signal safe.
  * When attempting to call non-signal-safe functions, guard them with a check
  * of the inSignalContext global variable. */
@@ -550,6 +586,8 @@ LogSWrite(int verb, const char *buf, size_t len, Bool end_line)
     static Bool newline = TRUE;
     int ret;
 
+    LogSyslogWrite(verb, buf, len, end_line);
+
     if (verb < 0 || xorgLogVerbosity >= verb)
         ret = write(2, buf, len);
 
diff --git a/os/log_priv.h b/os/log_priv.h
index 660b121ef..b86555a77 100644
--- a/os/log_priv.h
+++ b/os/log_priv.h
@@ -72,4 +72,21 @@ extern int xorgLogFileVerbosity;
  */
 extern Bool xorgLogSync;
 
+/**
+ * @brief syslog verbosity
+ *
+ * The verbosity level of logging to syslog. All messages with
+ * verbosity level below this one will be sent to local syslog daemon.
+ */
+extern int xorgSyslogVerbosity;
+
+/**
+ * @brief syslog identifier
+ *
+ * The identifier prefix used for syslog logging.
+ * Per default will be filled with basename(argv[0]). DDX'es can override
+ * this before calling LogInit()
+ */
+extern const char *xorgSyslogIdent;
+
 #endif /* __XORG_OS_LOGGING_H */
diff --git a/os/meson.build b/os/meson.build
index 8b1255349..8d5268f4d 100644
--- a/os/meson.build
+++ b/os/meson.build
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ srcs_os = [
     'log.c',
 ]
 
+conf_data.set('CONFIG_SYSLOG', cc.has_header('syslog.h') ? '1' : false)
+
 # Wrapper code for missing C library functions. Note that conf_data contains either '1' or false.
 srcs_libc = []
 if conf_data.get('HAVE_REALLOCARRAY').to_int() == 0
diff --git a/os/utils.c b/os/utils.c
index 52c30f56f..4a0a271a2 100644
--- a/os/utils.c
+++ b/os/utils.c
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #define TRANS_REOPEN
 #include <X11/Xtrans/Xtrans.h>
 
+#include <libgen.h>
+
 #include "input.h"
 #include "dixfont.h"
 #include <X11/fonts/libxfont2.h>
@@ -428,6 +430,12 @@ ProcessCommandLine(int argc, char *argv[])
     }
     SeatId = getenv("XDG_SEAT");
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG
+    xorgSyslogIdent = getenv("SYSLOG_IDENT");
+    if (!xorgSyslogIdent)
+        xorgSyslogIdent = strdup(basename(argv[0]));
+#endif
+
     for (i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
         /* call ddx first, so it can peek/override if it wants */
         if ((skip = ddxProcessArgument(argc, argv, i))) {
@@ -797,6 +805,9 @@ ProcessCommandLine(int argc, char *argv[])
             else
                 UseMsg();
         }
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG
+        else if (ProcessCmdLineMultiInt(argc, argv, &i, "-syslogverbose", &xorgSyslogVerbosity));
+#endif
         else {
             ErrorF("Unrecognized option: %s\n", argv[i]);
             UseMsg();