diff --git a/cmd/telegraf/telegraf.go b/cmd/telegraf/telegraf.go
index 16f7845d0507a..b1766ab5020e4 100644
--- a/cmd/telegraf/telegraf.go
+++ b/cmd/telegraf/telegraf.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func reloadLoop(
 				log.Fatal("E! " + err.Error())
 			}
 		}
-		if len(c.Outputs) == 0 {
+		if !*fTest && len(c.Outputs) == 0 {
 			log.Fatalf("E! Error: no outputs found, did you provide a valid config file?")
 		}
 		if len(c.Inputs) == 0 {