diff --git a/lib/autoscale-manager.js b/lib/autoscale-manager.js
index 1b8077c..7466fdc 100644
--- a/lib/autoscale-manager.js
+++ b/lib/autoscale-manager.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ module.exports = (logger) => {
   // listen for SNS lifecycle changes
   let lifecycleEmitter = new Emitter();
   lifecycleEmitter.dryUpCalls = false;
-  if (process.env.AWS_SNS_TOPIC_ARM && process.env.AWS_REGION) {
+  if (process.env.AWS_SNS_TOPIC_ARM) {
 
     (async function() {
       try {
diff --git a/lib/aws-sns-lifecycle.js b/lib/aws-sns-lifecycle.js
index e123d6e..5440c52 100644
--- a/lib/aws-sns-lifecycle.js
+++ b/lib/aws-sns-lifecycle.js
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class SnsNotifier extends Emitter {
 
   async init() {
     try {
-      this.logger.debug('SnsNotifier: retrieving instance data');
+      this.logger.info('SnsNotifier: retrieving instance data');
       this.instanceId = await getString('http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/instance-id');
       this.publicIp = await getString('http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/public-ipv4');
       this.snsEndpoint = `http://${this.publicIp}:${PORT}`;