diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/openqa b/inventory/group_vars/openqa
index 4a1ce0b186..a7ca00aba3 100644
--- a/inventory/group_vars/openqa
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/openqa
@@ -52,3 +52,6 @@ fedmsg_certs:
   - openqa.jobs.restart
   - openqa.job.update.result
   - openqa.job.done
+
+# we need this to log with fedmsg-logger
+fedmsg_active: True
diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/openqa-stg b/inventory/group_vars/openqa-stg
index d2717572da..4e498de56e 100644
--- a/inventory/group_vars/openqa-stg
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/openqa-stg
@@ -60,5 +60,8 @@ fedmsg_certs:
   - openqa.job.update.result
   - openqa.job.done
 
+# we need this to log with fedmsg-logger
+fedmsg_active: True
+
 # makes sure it sends stg not prod fedmsgs
 fedmsg_env: stg