Add setup_basic_logger during task initialization

core/dbt/events/functions.py

@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ metadata_vars: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None
 # generates events, without configuring the event manager.
 EVENT_MANAGER: EventManager = EventManager()
 
+# make sure that logs / exceptions go *somewhere* if they occur before the
+# EventManager has been actually configured. this should only be needed if something
+# has been configured / initialized incorrectly
+def setup_basic_logger():
+    EVENT_MANAGER.add_logger(_get_stdout_config(level=EventLevel.INFO))
+
 
 def setup_event_logger(log_path: str, level_override: Optional[EventLevel] = None):
     cleanup_event_logger()

core/dbt/main.py

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from contextlib import contextmanager
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import dbt.version
-from dbt.events.functions import fire_event, setup_event_logger, LOG_VERSION
+from dbt.events.functions import fire_event, setup_basic_logger, setup_event_logger, LOG_VERSION
 from dbt.events.types import (
     MainEncounteredError,
     MainKeyboardInterrupt,
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ def track_run(task):
 
 def run_from_args(parsed):
     log_cache_events(getattr(parsed, "log_cache_events", False))
+    # just in case something goes wrong before we reach the real 'setup_event_logger'
+    setup_basic_logger()
 
     # this will convert DbtConfigErrors into RuntimeExceptions
     # task could be any one of the task objects

core/dbt/task/base.py

@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ class BaseTask(metaclass=ABCMeta):
             tracking.track_invalid_invocation(args=args, result_type=exc.result_type)
             raise dbt.exceptions.RuntimeException("Could not run dbt") from exc
         except dbt.exceptions.DbtProfileError as exc:
+            # This will use the 'basic' event manager, if the real one hasn't yet been configured
             fire_event(DbtProfileError())
             fire_event(DbtProfileErrorException(exc=str(exc)))