diff --git a/internal/cmd/server.go b/internal/cmd/server.go
index 41067438cf..50a767d6b1 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/server.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/server.go
@@ -102,14 +102,17 @@ func server(ctx context.Context, stdout, stderr io.Writer, cfgPath string, hook
 		// Exit if the config loader fails to start the runners.
 		// Continuing with failed runners would cause EG to function incorrectly.
 		case err := <-l.Errors():
-			cfg.Logger.Error(err, "failed to start runners")
+			// Read the logger through the loader so the read is guarded by the
+			// same mutex the reload path holds while replacing it. Reading
+			// cfg.Logger directly here races with that swap.
+			l.Logger().Error(err, "failed to start runners")
 			// Wait for runners to finish before shutting down.
 			// This is to make sure no orphaned runner process is left running in standalone mode.
 			l.Wait()
 			return err
 		// Wait for the context to be done, which usually happens the process receives a SIGTERM or SIGINT.
 		case <-ctx.Done():
-			cfg.Logger.Info("shutting down")
+			l.Logger().Info("shutting down")
 			// Wait for runners to finish before shutting down.
 			// This is to make sure no orphaned runner process is left running in standalone mode.
 			l.Wait()
diff --git a/internal/envoygateway/config/loader/configloader.go b/internal/envoygateway/config/loader/configloader.go
index fe3b2b9424..c35b135867 100644
--- a/internal/envoygateway/config/loader/configloader.go
+++ b/internal/envoygateway/config/loader/configloader.go
@@ -142,6 +142,14 @@ func (r *Loader) Errors() <-chan error {
 	return r.hookErr
 }
 
+// Logger returns the current logger, safe to call concurrently with a config
+// reload replacing it.
+func (r *Loader) Logger() logging.Logger {
+	r.cfgMu.RLock()
+	defer r.cfgMu.RUnlock()
+	return r.cfg.Logger
+}
+
 // Wait returns when success to acquire mutex, which means no hook is running.
 func (r *Loader) Wait() {
 	r.hookMutex.Lock()
diff --git a/release-notes/current/bug_fixes/9581-config-reload-server-logger-data-race.md b/release-notes/current/bug_fixes/9581-config-reload-server-logger-data-race.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c504d6156f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/current/bug_fixes/9581-config-reload-server-logger-data-race.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed a data race between config-reload and the standalone server's shutdown/error logging by reading the logger through a new mutex-guarded `Loader.Logger()` accessor instead of the shared `cfg.Logger` field directly.