diff --git a/launcher/container_runner.go b/launcher/container_runner.go
index 9d6e4ce3..078032a5 100644
--- a/launcher/container_runner.go
+++ b/launcher/container_runner.go
@@ -579,17 +579,17 @@ func (r *ContainerRunner) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unknown logging redirect location: %v", r.launchSpec.LogRedirect)
 	}
 
-	setupDuration := time.Since(start)
-	r.logger.Info("Workload setup completed",
-		"setup_sec", setupDuration.Seconds(),
-	)
-
 	task, err := r.container.NewTask(ctx, cio.NewCreator(streamOpt))
 	if err != nil {
 		return &RetryableError{err}
 	}
 	defer task.Delete(ctx)
 
+	setupDuration := time.Since(start)
+	r.logger.Info("Workload setup completed",
+		"setup_sec", setupDuration.Seconds(),
+	)
+
 	exitStatusC, err := task.Wait(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		r.logger.Error(err.Error())
diff --git a/launcher/internal/logging/logging.go b/launcher/internal/logging/logging.go
index b0acdc8b..f78f754b 100644
--- a/launcher/internal/logging/logging.go
+++ b/launcher/internal/logging/logging.go
@@ -174,11 +174,13 @@ func (l *logger) writeLog(severity clogging.Severity, msg string, args ...any) {
 	logEntry.Payload = pl
 
 	l.cloudLogger.Log(logEntry)
-	l.cloudLogger.Flush()
+	if err := l.cloudLogger.Flush(); err != nil {
+		l.serialLogger.Error(fmt.Sprintf("cloud.Logger.Flush returned error: %v", err))
+	}
 
 	// Write to serial console.
 	switch severity {
-	case clogging.Info, clogging.Notice:
+	case clogging.Info, clogging.Notice, clogging.Debug:
 		l.serialLogger.Info(msg, args...)
 	case clogging.Warning:
 		l.serialLogger.Warn(msg, args...)