diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 07a455c..8525481 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -124,6 +124,10 @@ def sig_prog(proc, sig):
 def daemon(loglevel, testdir, arb_addr):
     """Run a daemon actor as a "remote arbiter".
     """
+    if loglevel in ('trace', 'debug'):
+        # too much logging will lock up the subproc (smh)
+        loglevel = 'info'
+
     cmdargs = [
         sys.executable, '-c',
         "import tractor; tractor.run_daemon((), arbiter_addr={}, loglevel={})"