diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index b198aee0..7d9f01b8 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -120,74 +120,13 @@ def cpu_scaling_factor() -> float:
     return 1.
 
 
-def pytest_addoption(
-    parser: pytest.Parser,
-):
-    # ?TODO? should this be exposed from our `._testing.pytest`
-    # plugin or should we make it more explicit with `--tl` for
-    # tractor logging like we do in other client projects?
-    parser.addoption(
-        "--ll",
-        action="store",
-        dest='loglevel',
-        default=None,
-        help="logging level to set when testing",
-    )
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(scope='session', autouse=True)
-def loglevel(
-    request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
-) -> str|None:
-    import tractor
-    orig = tractor.log._default_loglevel
-    flag_level: str|None = request.config.option.loglevel
-
-    if flag_level is not None:
-        tractor.log._default_loglevel = flag_level
-
-    log = tractor.log.get_console_log(
-        level=flag_level,
-        name='tractor',  # <- enable root logger
-    )
-    log.info(
-        f'Test-harness set runtime loglevel: {flag_level!r}\n'
-    )
-    yield flag_level
-    tractor.log._default_loglevel = orig
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(scope='function')
-def test_log(
-    request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
-    loglevel: str,
-) -> tractor.log.StackLevelAdapter:
-    '''
-    Deliver a per test-module-fn logger instance for reporting from
-    within actual test bodies/fixtures.
-
-    For example this can be handy to report certain error cases from
-    exception handlers using `test_log.exception()`.
-
-    '''
-    modname: str = request.function.__module__
-    log = tractor.log.get_logger(
-        name=modname,  # <- enable root logger
-        # pkg_name='tests',
-    )
-    _log = tractor.log.get_console_log(
-        level=loglevel,
-        logger=log,
-        name=modname,
-        # pkg_name='tests',
-    )
-    _log.debug(
-        f'In-test-logging requested\n'
-        f'test_log.name: {log.name!r}\n'
-        f'level: {loglevel!r}\n'
-
-    )
-    yield _log
+# NOTE, the `--ll`/`--tl` CLI flags + the `loglevel`, `test_log`
+# and `testing_pkg_name` fixtures have been factored into the
+# `tractor._testing.pytest` plugin (loaded via the `-p` entry in
+# `pyproject.toml`'s `[tool.pytest.ini_options]`) so downstream
+# consuming projects (eg. `modden`) inherit them for free. The
+# plugin's `testing_pkg_name` fixture defaults to `'tractor'`, so
+# this suite keeps treating `--ll` as the runtime loglevel.
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
diff --git a/tractor/_testing/pytest.py b/tractor/_testing/pytest.py
index 38d9ebec..8d3d174e 100644
--- a/tractor/_testing/pytest.py
+++ b/tractor/_testing/pytest.py
@@ -405,6 +405,46 @@ def pytest_addoption(
         help="Transport protocol to use under the `tractor.ipc.Channel`",
     )
 
+    # console loglevel for the test-session, scoped to the
+    # consuming-project's OWN pkg-hierarchy (see the
+    # `testing_pkg_name` fixture). For `tractor` itself this IS the
+    # runtime loglevel; downstream projects use `--ll` for their own
+    # ("internal") app-logging and `--tl` for tractor-as-runtime.
+    parser.addoption(
+        "--ll",
+        "--loglevel",
+        action="store",
+        dest='loglevel',
+        default=None,
+        help=(
+            "console loglevel to set for the test session, scoped to "
+            "the consuming-project pkg (see `testing_pkg_name`). "
+            "Falls through as the `--tl` default."
+        ),
+    )
+
+    # tractor-as-runtime loglevel, DISTINCT from `--ll` so downstream
+    # projects can split their app-logs from the `tractor.*` runtime
+    # hierarchy. Accepts a `tractor.log` "logging-spec" (see
+    # `tractor.log.apply_logspec()`).
+    parser.addoption(
+        "--tl",
+        "--tractor-loglevel",
+        action="store",
+        dest='tractor_loglevel',
+        default=None,
+        help=(
+            "loglevel (or logging-spec) for `tractor`-as-runtime, "
+            "distinct from `--ll`. Accepts a bare level (eg. "
+            "'info', 'cancel') or a sub-logger filter-spec, "
+            "'<sublog>:<level>,...' (eg. "
+            "'devx:runtime,trionics:cancel'). Falls back to `--ll` "
+            "when unset. Mirrors the logging-spec grammar consumed "
+            "by `tractor.log.apply_logspec()` (see its sub-pkg "
+            "granularity caveat)."
+        ),
+    )
+
 
 def pytest_configure(
     config: pytest.Config,
@@ -547,6 +587,135 @@ def debug_mode(
     return debug_mode
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
+def testing_pkg_name() -> str:
+    '''
+    Root pkg-name of the project consuming this plugin, used to
+    scope `--ll` "internal"/app-level console logging into that
+    project's OWN `tractor.log.get_logger(pkg_name=<.>)` hierarchy
+    — distinct from the `tractor.*` runtime hierarchy configured
+    via `--tl`.
+
+    Defaults to `'tractor'` (so tractor's own suite treats `--ll`
+    as the runtime level). Downstream projects override this from
+    their `conftest.py`, eg.
+
+    .. code:: python
+
+        @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
+        def testing_pkg_name() -> str:
+            return 'modden'
+
+    '''
+    return 'tractor'
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(
+    scope='session',
+    autouse=True,
+)
+def loglevel(
+    request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+    testing_pkg_name: str,
+) -> str|None:
+    '''
+    Resolve + apply the test-session console loglevels and yield
+    the `tractor`-runtime level (also passed to
+    `open_root_actor(loglevel=<.>)` by `@tractor_test`).
+
+    - `--tl <logspec>`: tractor-runtime level (falls back to the
+      generic `--ll`); applied to the `tractor.*` logger hierarchy
+      and `tractor.log._default_loglevel` via
+      `tractor.log.apply_logspec()`.
+    - `--ll <level>`: the consuming-project's OWN console loglevel,
+      applied to its `testing_pkg_name` hierarchy when that isn't
+      `tractor` itself.
+
+    '''
+    import tractor
+    orig: str = tractor.log._default_loglevel
+
+    ll: str|None = request.config.option.loglevel
+    tl: str|None = request.config.option.tractor_loglevel
+
+    # tractor-runtime loglevel: explicit `--tl` wins, else fall
+    # back to the generic `--ll`, else leave the lib default.
+    logspec: str|None = tl if tl is not None else ll
+    tractor_level: str|None = None
+    if logspec is not None:
+        tractor_level, _ = tractor.log.apply_logspec(
+            logspec,
+            default_level=ll,
+            pkg_name='tractor',
+        )
+        if tractor_level is not None:
+            tractor.log._default_loglevel = tractor_level
+
+    # consuming-project ("internal") console logging at the generic
+    # `--ll` level, scoped to ITS OWN pkg-hierarchy (NOT `tractor.*`)
+    # so downstream projects can split app-logs from runtime-logs.
+    if (
+        ll is not None
+        and
+        testing_pkg_name
+        and
+        testing_pkg_name != 'tractor'
+    ):
+        tractor.log.get_console_log(
+            level=ll,
+            pkg_name=testing_pkg_name,
+            name=testing_pkg_name,
+        )
+
+    log = tractor.log.get_console_log(
+        level=tractor_level,
+        name='tractor',  # <- enable root logger
+    )
+    log.info(
+        f'Test-harness set session loglevels:\n'
+        f'tractor-runtime (`--tl`/`--ll`): {tractor_level!r}\n'
+        f'{testing_pkg_name!r} (`--ll`): {ll!r}\n'
+    )
+    yield tractor_level
+    tractor.log._default_loglevel = orig
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope='function')
+def test_log(
+    request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+    loglevel: str,
+    testing_pkg_name: str,
+) -> tractor.log.StackLevelAdapter:
+    '''
+    Deliver a per test-module-fn logger instance for reporting from
+    within actual test bodies/fixtures.
+
+    For example this can be handy to report certain error cases from
+    exception handlers using `test_log.exception()`.
+
+    The logger is scoped to the consuming-project's
+    `testing_pkg_name` hierarchy so downstream suites' in-test logs
+    land under their own pkg, not `tractor.*`.
+
+    '''
+    modname: str = request.function.__module__
+    log = tractor.log.get_logger(
+        name=modname,
+        pkg_name=testing_pkg_name,
+    )
+    _log = tractor.log.get_console_log(
+        level=loglevel,
+        logger=log,
+        name=modname,
+    )
+    _log.debug(
+        f'In-test-logging requested\n'
+        f'test_log.name: {log.name!r}\n'
+        f'level: {loglevel!r}\n'
+    )
+    yield _log
+
+
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
 def spawn_backend(
     request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
diff --git a/tractor/log.py b/tractor/log.py
index 8d164d87..d11901a7 100644
--- a/tractor/log.py
+++ b/tractor/log.py
@@ -711,6 +711,160 @@ def get_console_log(
     return log
 
 
+# A `tractor` "logging-spec": a compact, code-free way for a
+# consuming project's test-iface (or runtime) to dial-in console
+# loglevels across the lib's logger hierarchy. Mirrors the grammar
+# consumed by `modden.runtime.daemon.setup_tractor_logging()`.
+#
+# Accepted forms (`str|bool`),
+# - `True`              -> enable the `pkg_name` root-logger at
+#                          `default_level` (or 'cancel').
+# - `False`             -> disable (no-op, configure nothing).
+# - 'info'              -> a bare level for the root-logger.
+# - 'sub:info,x:cancel' -> per-sub-logger levels; each `<name>` is
+#                          RELATIVE to `pkg_name` (must NOT include
+#                          the `pkg_name` token itself), eg.
+#                          'devx:runtime,trionics:cancel'.
+#
+# !GRANULARITY CAVEAT! sub-logger names are matched at the
+# `pkg_name.<name>` *logger* level, which (per `get_logger()`'s
+# name-derivation) is effectively the *sub-package* granularity:
+# - leaf module-names are stripped, so 'devx.debug' collapses to
+#   the same `tractor.devx` logger as a bare 'devx' (you CANNOT
+#   isolate a single leaf-module's emits from its sub-pkg).
+# - top-level lib modules (eg. `tractor.to_asyncio`) emit under the
+#   *root* `pkg_name` logger (their `__package__` IS `pkg_name`),
+#   so a 'to_asyncio:<level>' filter targets a phantom child that
+#   nothing emits to -> no-op. Use the root-level form for those.
+LogSpec = str|bool
+
+
+def parse_logspec(
+    logspec: LogSpec,
+    default_level: str|None = None,
+    pkg_name: str = _proj_name,
+
+) -> dict[str|None, str]:
+    '''
+    Parse a `tractor` "logging-spec" (see `LogSpec`) into a
+    `{sublog_name|None: level}` mapping where a `None` key denotes
+    the `pkg_name` root-logger itself.
+
+    '''
+    match logspec:
+
+        # explicit disable -> configure nothing.
+        case False:
+            return {}
+
+        # enable the root-logger at the fallback level.
+        case True:
+            return {None: (default_level or 'cancel')}
+
+        case str(spec):
+            filters: list[str] = [
+                part.strip()
+                for part in spec.split(',')
+                if part.strip()
+            ]
+            # i. a bare level (no sub-logger filtering),
+            #    eg. 'info' | 'cancel'
+            if (
+                len(filters) == 1
+                and
+                ':' not in filters[0]
+            ):
+                return {None: filters[0]}
+
+            # ii. a per-sub-logger filter-spec of the form,
+            #     '<sublog_0>:<level>,<.. N-other-parts>'
+            #     eg. 'to_asyncio:cancel,devx._debug:runtime'
+            out: dict[str|None, str] = {}
+            for log_filter in filters:
+                name, sep, level = log_filter.partition(':')
+                if not sep:
+                    raise ValueError(
+                        f'Invalid `tractor` logging-spec part!\n'
+                        f'{log_filter!r}\n'
+                        f'\n'
+                        f'Mixed bare-level + sub-logger filters are '
+                        f'not supported; every comma-part must be '
+                        f'`<sublog>:<level>`.\n'
+                    )
+                # the sub-logger name is RELATIVE to `pkg_name`;
+                # duplicating the pkg-token is a user error since
+                # the root-logger already IS `pkg_name`.
+                if pkg_name in name.split('.'):
+                    raise ValueError(
+                        f'logging-spec sub-name should NOT include '
+                        f'the `pkg_name={pkg_name!r}` token!\n'
+                        f'got name={name!r}\n'
+                    )
+                out[name] = level
+            return out
+
+        case _:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f'Invalid `tractor` logging-spec!\n'
+                f'{logspec!r}\n'
+            )
+
+
+def apply_logspec(
+    logspec: LogSpec,
+    default_level: str|None = None,
+    pkg_name: str = _proj_name,
+
+) -> tuple[
+    str|None,
+    dict[str, StackLevelAdapter],
+]:
+    '''
+    Parse + apply a `tractor` "logging-spec" (see `parse_logspec()`):
+    enable a `colorlog` stderr console handler for each
+    (sub-)logger named in the spec at its requested level.
+
+    Returns a 2-tuple,
+    - the resolved "primary" runtime-level: the root-logger level if
+      the spec set one, else `default_level`; suitable for passing
+      to `open_root_actor(loglevel=<.>)`,
+    - a `{logger_name: StackLevelAdapter}` map of every logger the
+      spec touched.
+
+    '''
+    specs: dict[str|None, str] = parse_logspec(
+        logspec,
+        default_level=default_level,
+        pkg_name=pkg_name,
+    )
+    logs: dict[str, StackLevelAdapter] = {}
+    for sub_name, level in specs.items():
+        # NOTE, pass the RELATIVE sub-name (no `pkg_name.` prefix)
+        # to avoid `get_logger()`'s duplicate-pkg-token warning;
+        # it re-adds the pkg-name via `.getChild()` internally.
+        log: StackLevelAdapter = get_console_log(
+            level=level,
+            pkg_name=pkg_name,
+            name=(sub_name or pkg_name),
+        )
+        # XXX, a sub-logger filter is "authoritative" for its
+        # subtree: it gets its OWN stderr handler (added by
+        # `get_console_log()` above), so DON'T also let its records
+        # propagate up to a root `pkg_name`-logger handler — that
+        # would double-emit every line when a root-level console
+        # (eg. via `--ll`) is also active. The root-level form
+        # (`sub_name is None`) keeps default propagation.
+        if sub_name is not None:
+            log.logger.propagate = False
+        logs[log.name] = log
+
+    primary_level: str|None = specs.get(None, default_level)
+    return (
+        primary_level,
+        logs,
+    )
+
+
 def get_loglevel() -> str:
     return _default_loglevel