diff --git a/sdks/go/container/tools/logging.go b/sdks/go/container/tools/logging.go
index ced13b744d45..7bd68299814d 100644
--- a/sdks/go/container/tools/logging.go
+++ b/sdks/go/container/tools/logging.go
@@ -119,5 +119,10 @@ func (l *Logger) Errorf(ctx context.Context, format string, args ...any) {
 // Fatalf logs the message with Critical severity, and then calls os.Exit(1).
 func (l *Logger) Fatalf(ctx context.Context, format string, args ...any) {
 	l.Log(ctx, fnpb.LogEntry_Severity_CRITICAL, fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
+	// Allow additional time for other background processes (e.g., log agent) to
+	// complete before exiting. This ensures crucial information is captured
+	// before the worker process terminates.
+	l.Log(ctx, fnpb.LogEntry_Severity_CRITICAL, "Completing background processes before exiting...")
+	time.Sleep(15 * time.Second)
 	os.Exit(1)
 }
diff --git a/sdks/java/container/boot.go b/sdks/java/container/boot.go
index 7fd87b3524e2..ab04243fc277 100644
--- a/sdks/java/container/boot.go
+++ b/sdks/java/container/boot.go
@@ -135,14 +135,25 @@ func main() {
 
 	const jarsDir = "/opt/apache/beam/jars"
 	const javaHarnessJar = "beam-sdks-java-harness.jar"
-	cp := []string{
-		filepath.Join(jarsDir, "slf4j-api.jar"),
-		filepath.Join(jarsDir, "slf4j-jdk14.jar"),
-		filepath.Join(jarsDir, "jcl-over-slf4j.jar"),
-		filepath.Join(jarsDir, "log4j-over-slf4j.jar"),
-		filepath.Join(jarsDir, "log4j-to-slf4j.jar"),
-		filepath.Join(jarsDir, javaHarnessJar),
+	defaultLoggingJars := []string{
+		"slf4j-api.jar",
+		"slf4j-jdk14.jar",
+		"jcl-over-slf4j.jar",
+		"log4j-over-slf4j.jar",
+		"log4j-to-slf4j.jar",
 	}
+	cp := []string{}
+	if strings.Contains(options, "use_custom_logging_libraries") {
+		// In this case, the logging libraries will be provided from the staged
+		// artifacts.
+		logger.Warnf(ctx, "Skipping default slf4j dependencies in classpath")
+	} else {
+		logger.Printf(ctx, "Using default slf4j dependencies in classpath")
+		for _, jar := range defaultLoggingJars {
+			cp = append(cp, filepath.Join(jarsDir, jar))
+		}
+	}
+	cp = append(cp, filepath.Join(jarsDir, javaHarnessJar))
 
 	var hasWorkerExperiment = strings.Contains(options, "use_staged_dataflow_worker_jar")
 	for _, a := range artifacts {