diff --git a/phosphor-rsyslog-config/server-conf.cpp b/phosphor-rsyslog-config/server-conf.cpp
index fb5d086..ad12a9e 100644
--- a/phosphor-rsyslog-config/server-conf.cpp
+++ b/phosphor-rsyslog-config/server-conf.cpp
@@ -187,10 +187,12 @@
     }
     else // this is a disable request
     {
-        // write '*.* ~' - this causes rsyslog to discard all messages
-        stream << "*.* ~";
+        // dummy action to avoid error 2103 on startup
+        stream << "*.* /dev/null";
     }
 
+    stream << std::endl;
+
     restart();
 }
 
diff --git a/test/remote_logging_test_config.cpp b/test/remote_logging_test_config.cpp
index 53298c6..f21904b 100644
--- a/test/remote_logging_test_config.cpp
+++ b/test/remote_logging_test_config.cpp
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@
 TEST_F(TestRemoteLogging, testOnlyAddress)
 {
     config->address("1.1.1.1");
-    EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* ~");
+    EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* /dev/null");
 }
 
 TEST_F(TestRemoteLogging, testOnlyPort)
 {
     config->port(100);
-    EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* ~");
+    EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* /dev/null");
 }
 
 TEST_F(TestRemoteLogging, testGoodConfig)
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
     config->port(100);
     EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* @@1.1.1.1:100");
     config->address("");
-    EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* ~");
+    EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* /dev/null");
 }
 
 TEST_F(TestRemoteLogging, testClearPort)
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     config->port(100);
     EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* @@1.1.1.1:100");
     config->port(0);
-    EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* ~");
+    EXPECT_EQ(getConfig(configFilePath.c_str()), "*.* /dev/null");
 }
 
 TEST_F(TestRemoteLogging, testGoodIPv6Config)