diff --git a/code/modules/admin/admin_ranks.dm b/code/modules/admin/admin_ranks.dm
index 201fe759794..7332eab8d05 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/admin_ranks.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/admin_ranks.dm
@@ -143,8 +143,10 @@ GLOBAL_PROTECT(admin_ranks)
 			previous_rights = R.rights
 	else
 		if(!SSdbcore.Connect())
-			log_world("Failed to connect to database in load_admin_ranks(). Reverting to legacy system.")
-			WRITE_FILE(GLOB.world_game_log, "Failed to connect to database in load_admin_ranks(). Reverting to legacy system.")
+			if(CONFIG_GET(flag/sql_enabled))
+				var/msg = "Failed to connect to database in load_admin_ranks(). Reverting to legacy system."
+				log_world(msg)
+				WRITE_FILE(GLOB.world_game_log, msg)
 			CONFIG_SET(flag/admin_legacy_system, TRUE)
 			load_admin_ranks()
 			return
diff --git a/config/config.txt b/config/config.txt
index 5a40b50a7bd..29a053d8776 100644
--- a/config/config.txt
+++ b/config/config.txt
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ LOBBY_COUNTDOWN 120
 ## Round End Time: This is the amount of time after the round ends that players have to murder death kill each other.
 ROUND_END_COUNTDOWN 90
 
-## Comment this out if you want to use the SQL based admin system, the legacy system uses admins.txt. You need to set up your database to use the SQL based system.
+## Comment this out if you want to use the SQL based admin system, the legacy system uses admins.txt.
+## You need to set up your database to use the SQL based system.
+## This flag is automatically enabled if SQL_ENABLED isn't
 ADMIN_LEGACY_SYSTEM
 
 ## Comment this out if you want to use the SQL based banning system. The legacy systems use the files in the data folder. You need to set up your database to use the SQL based system.