diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/log.py b/tools/python/jwutils/log.py
index 3d078f4..bd32f2b 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/log.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/log.py
@@ -235,9 +235,12 @@ def set_level(level_: str) -> None: # export
         return
     _level = level_
 
-def set_flags(flags_: str) -> None: # export
+def set_flags(flags: str|None) -> None: # export
     global _flags
-    _flags = set(flags_.split(','))
+    ret = ','.join(_flags)
+    if _flags is not None:
+        _flags = set(flags.split(','))
+    return ret
 
     #syslog
     #console