diff --git a/ctl/backup_test.go b/ctl/backup_test.go
index 936576704..512093a20 100644
--- a/ctl/backup_test.go
+++ b/ctl/backup_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"net/url"
-	"os"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -191,7 +190,7 @@ func NewHolder() *Holder {
 // MustOpenHolder creates and opens a holder at a temporary path. Panic on error.
 func MustOpenHolder() *Holder {
 	h := NewHolder()
-	if err := h.Open(os.Stderr); err != nil {
+	if err := h.Open(); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 	return h
diff --git a/holder.go b/holder.go
index 854d778ef..2fdb58e97 100644
--- a/holder.go
+++ b/holder.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func NewHolder() *Holder {
 }
 
 // Open initializes the root data directory for the holder.
-func (h *Holder) Open(logOutput io.Writer) error {
+func (h *Holder) Open() error {
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(h.Path, 0777); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -87,8 +87,6 @@ func (h *Holder) Open(logOutput io.Writer) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	h.LogOutput = logOutput
-
 	for _, fi := range fis {
 		if !fi.IsDir() {
 			continue
diff --git a/holder_test.go b/holder_test.go
index 78a9219b3..b6864ffc9 100644
--- a/holder_test.go
+++ b/holder_test.go
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ func NewHolder() *Holder {
 // MustOpenHolder creates and opens a holder at a temporary path. Panic on error.
 func MustOpenHolder() *Holder {
 	h := NewHolder()
-	if err := h.Open(&h.LogOutput); err != nil {
+	if err := h.Open(); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 	return h
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ func (h *Holder) Reopen() error {
 	h.Holder = pilosa.NewHolder()
 	h.Holder.Path = path
 	h.Holder.LogOutput = logOutput
-	if err := h.Holder.Open(&h.LogOutput); err != nil {
+	if err := h.Holder.Open(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index 265a400f5..1f09119e1 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ func (s *Server) Open() error {
 	}
 
 	// Open holder.
-	if err := s.Holder.Open(s.LogOutput); err != nil {
+	s.Holder.LogOutput = s.LogOutput
+	if err := s.Holder.Open(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("opening Holder: %v", err)
 	}