diff --git a/yao/actor.py b/yao/actor.py
index 11d1501..f3fcc60 100644
--- a/yao/actor.py
+++ b/yao/actor.py
@@ -60,7 +60,11 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # but in practice for now that's fine.
 
         log_path = self.log.log_filename
-        mech_log = pathlib.Path(log_path).parent / "spec-mech.log" if log_path else None
+        write_mech_log = self.config["specMech"].get("write_log", False)
+        if log_path and write_mech_log:
+            mech_log = pathlib.Path(log_path).parent / "spec-mech.log"
+        else:
+            mech_log = None
 
         self.spec_mech = MechController(
             self.config["specMech"]["address"],
diff --git a/yao/etc/yao.yml b/yao/etc/yao.yml
index 16b6125..c74b31a 100644
--- a/yao/etc/yao.yml
+++ b/yao/etc/yao.yml
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ header:
 specMech:
   address: 192.168.1.3
   port: 23
+  write_log: true
   motors:
     minP: 85000
     maxP: 800000