diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/sling/testing/mock/sling/context/SlingContextImpl.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/sling/testing/mock/sling/context/SlingContextImpl.java
index 91a7b2e..330a306 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/sling/testing/mock/sling/context/SlingContextImpl.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/sling/testing/mock/sling/context/SlingContextImpl.java
@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@
 @ConsumerType
 public class SlingContextImpl extends OsgiContextImpl {
 
+    static {
+        // ugly hack: prevent default console logging from ESAPI on each initialization by setting system property
+        System.setProperty("org.owasp.esapi.logSpecial.discard", "true");
+    }
+
     // default to publish instance run mode
     static final @NotNull Set<String> DEFAULT_RUN_MODES = Collections.singleton("publish");