Index: src/main/php/LoggerAppender.php
===================================================================
--- src/main/php/LoggerAppender.php	(revision 1207767)
+++ src/main/php/LoggerAppender.php	(working copy)
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@
 		// Closes the appender on shutdown. Better than a destructor because
 		// it will be called even if a fatal error occurs (destructor won't).
 		register_shutdown_function(array($this, 'close'));
+		
+		if ($this->requiresLayout === true && !$this->layout instanceof LoggerLayout) {
+			$this->layout = new LoggerLayoutSimple();
+		}
 	}
 
 	/**
Index: src/main/php/LoggerConfigurator.php
===================================================================
--- src/main/php/LoggerConfigurator.php	(revision 1207767)
+++ src/main/php/LoggerConfigurator.php	(working copy)
@@ -330,10 +330,7 @@
 	private function createAppenderLayout(LoggerAppender $appender, $config) {
 		$name = $appender->getName();
 		$class = $config['class'];
-		if (empty($class)) {
-			$this->warn("Layout class not specified for appender [$name]. Reverting to default layout.");
-			return;
-		}
+
 		if (!class_exists($class)) {
 			$this->warn("Nonexistant layout class [$class] specified for appender [$name]. Reverting to default layout.");
 			return;
Index: src/test/php/LoggerAppenderTest.php
===================================================================
--- src/test/php/LoggerAppenderTest.php	(revision 1207767)
+++ src/test/php/LoggerAppenderTest.php	(working copy)
@@ -146,4 +146,28 @@
 		$nullfilter = $appender->getFilter();
 		self::assertNull($nullfilter);
     }
+    
+    public function testInstanciateWithLayout() {
+    	$appender = new LoggerAppenderEcho("LoggerAppenderTest");
+    	
+    	$expected = "LoggerLayoutSimple";
+    	$actual = $appender->getLayout();
+    	$this->assertInstanceof($expected, $actual);
+    }
+    
+    public function testOverwriteLayout() {
+    	$layout = new LoggerLayoutSimple();
+    	$appender = new LoggerAppenderEcho("LoggerAppenderTest");
+    	$appender->setLayout($layout);    	
+    	
+    	$actual = $appender->getLayout();
+    	$this->assertEquals($layout, $actual);
+    }
+
+    public function testRequiresNoLayout() {
+    	$appender = new LoggerAppenderNull("LoggerAppenderTest");
+		
+    	$actual = $appender->getLayout();
+    	$this->assertNull($actual);
+    }    
 }
Index: src/test/php/LoggerConfiguratorTest.php
===================================================================
--- src/test/php/LoggerConfiguratorTest.php	(revision 1207767)
+++ src/test/php/LoggerConfiguratorTest.php	(working copy)
@@ -141,15 +141,7 @@
  	 */
  	public function testInvalidAppenderLayoutClassSet() {
  		Logger::configure(PHPUNIT_CONFIG_DIR . '/appenders/config_invalid_layout_class.xml');
- 	} 
-
-    /**
- 	 * @expectedException PHPUnit_Framework_Error
- 	 * @expectedExceptionMessage Layout class not specified for appender [foo]. Reverting to default layout.
- 	 */
- 	public function testNoAppenderLayoutClassSet() {
- 		Logger::configure(PHPUNIT_CONFIG_DIR . '/appenders/config_no_layout_class.xml');
- 	}   	
+ 	} 	
 
     /**
  	 * @expectedException PHPUnit_Framework_Error