diff --git a/rollbar/logger.py b/rollbar/logger.py
index ef3b1025..aada05da 100644
--- a/rollbar/logger.py
+++ b/rollbar/logger.py
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ def __init__(self,
 
         if access_token is not None:
             rollbar.init(
-                access_token, environment, **resolve_logging_types(kw))
+                access_token, environment,
+                allow_logging_basic_config=False,   # a handler shouldn't configure the root logger
+                **resolve_logging_types(kw))
 
         self.notify_level = _checkLevel(level)