diff --git a/tractor/_testing/_reap.py b/tractor/_testing/_reap.py
index fa4df944..e9511e96 100644
--- a/tractor/_testing/_reap.py
+++ b/tractor/_testing/_reap.py
@@ -216,18 +216,18 @@ def _read_comm(pid: int) -> str:
 # regardless of cwd / venv path / launch context. Used by
 # `_is_tractor_subactor()` below.
 #
-# - cmdline `tractor[`: matches the `setproctitle`-set form
-#   (`tractor[<aid.reprol()>]`) — set in
-#   `_actor_child_main` for ALL backends, mutates argv via
-#   libc so visible in `/proc/<pid>/cmdline`.
+# - cmdline `_subactor[` (`_proctitle._def_prefix`): matches
+#   the `setproctitle`-set form (`_subactor[<aid.reprol()>]`)
+#   — set in `_actor_child_main` for ALL backends, mutates
+#   argv via libc so visible in `/proc/<pid>/cmdline`.
 # - cmdline `tractor._child`: matches the legacy
 #   `python -m tractor._child --uid (...)` form. Catches
 #   procs that died before `_actor_child_main` got to call
 #   `setproctitle()` — argv from exec is still kernel-
 #   visible at that point.
-# - comm `tractor[`: same proctitle-set form, but visible
+# - comm `_subactor[`: same proctitle-set form, but visible
 #   via `/proc/<pid>/comm` (kernel-truncated to ~15 bytes,
-#   `tractor[doggy:`). Critical for ZOMBIES — kernel
+#   `_subactor[doggy:`). Critical for ZOMBIES — kernel
 #   preserves `comm` past task-exit until parent reaps,
 #   while `cmdline` for zombies often reads as empty.
 _TRACTOR_PROC_CMDLINE_MARKERS: tuple[str, ...] = (
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ def _is_tractor_subactor(pid: int) -> bool:
 
     '''
     # 1. cmdline match — catches both `setproctitle`-set
-    #    `tractor[<aid>]` (live) AND legacy `python -m
+    #    `_subactor[<aid>]` (live) AND legacy `python -m
     #    tractor._child` (any) form.
     cmdline: str = _read_cmdline(pid)
     if any(m in cmdline for m in _TRACTOR_PROC_CMDLINE_MARKERS):
diff --git a/tractor/log.py b/tractor/log.py
index 2c6e6b71..6c8c9bc8 100644
--- a/tractor/log.py
+++ b/tractor/log.py
@@ -281,8 +281,11 @@ def add_log_level(
       `StackLevelAdapter` so `log.<name>('msg')` works (and so
       `get_logger()`'s per-level method audit passes).
 
-    Idempotent: re-registering an existing name is a no-op-ish
-    refresh (won't clobber an already-bound method).
+    Idempotent: re-registering an existing name refreshes its
+    value + color in place. The bound `StackLevelAdapter.<name>`
+    method reads the current `CUSTOM_LEVELS` value at call time, so
+    it tracks the new level across re-registration (the method
+    object is bound once, never re-bound/clobbered).
 
     '''
     name_up: str = name.upper()
@@ -294,16 +297,18 @@ def add_log_level(
     BOLD_PALETTE['bold'][name_up] = f'bold_{color}'
 
     if not hasattr(StackLevelAdapter, name_lo):
-        # bind via default-arg so `value` is captured (not
-        # late-bound); delegates to `.log()` exactly like the
-        # hand-written level methods above.
+        # read the level from `CUSTOM_LEVELS[name_up]` at CALL time
+        # (NOT captured at bind time) so a later
+        # `add_log_level(name, <new-value>)` re-registration stays
+        # consistent with this once-bound method. The closure binds
+        # *this* call's `name_up` local (stable, never reassigned),
+        # so there's no late-binding hazard. Delegates to `.log()`
+        # exactly like the hand-written level methods above.
         def _emit(
             self,
             msg: str,
-            *,
-            _level: int = value,
         ) -> None:
-            return self.log(_level, msg)
+            return self.log(CUSTOM_LEVELS[name_up], msg)
 
         _emit.__name__ = name_lo
         _emit.__qualname__ = f'StackLevelAdapter.{name_lo}'