diff --git a/tests/test_spawning.py b/tests/test_spawning.py
index 7508a39..220af3e 100644
--- a/tests/test_spawning.py
+++ b/tests/test_spawning.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """
 Spawning basics
 """
+import pytest
 import trio
 import tractor
 
@@ -94,3 +95,42 @@ async def test_most_beautiful_word(start_method):
     # actor has completed its main task ``cellar_door``.
 
     print(await portal.result())
+
+
+async def check_loglevel(level):
+    assert tractor.current_actor().loglevel == level
+    log = tractor.log.get_logger()
+    # XXX using a level actually used inside tractor seems to trigger
+    # some kind of `logging` module bug FYI.
+    log.critical('yoyoyo')
+
+
+def test_loglevel_propagated_to_subactor(
+    start_method,
+    capfd,
+    arb_addr,
+):
+    if start_method == 'forkserver':
+        pytest.skip(
+            "a bug with `capfd` seems to make forkserver capture not work?")
+
+    level = 'critical'
+
+    async def main():
+        async with tractor.open_nursery() as tn:
+            await tn.run_in_actor(
+                'log_checker',
+                check_loglevel,
+                level=level,
+            )
+
+    tractor.run(
+        main,
+        name='arbiter',
+        loglevel=level,
+        start_method=start_method,
+        arbiter_addr=arb_addr,
+    )
+    # ensure subactor spits log message on stderr
+    captured = capfd.readouterr()
+    assert 'yoyoyo' in captured.err
diff --git a/tractor/__init__.py b/tractor/__init__.py
index 5872abf..2f6e7d7 100644
--- a/tractor/__init__.py
+++ b/tractor/__init__.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import typing
 import trio  # type: ignore
 from trio import MultiError
 
-from .log import get_console_log, get_logger, get_loglevel
+from . import log
 from ._ipc import _connect_chan, Channel, Context
 from ._actor import (
     Actor, _start_actor, Arbiter, get_arbiter, find_actor, wait_for_actor
@@ -51,11 +51,14 @@ async def _main(
 ) -> typing.Any:
     """Async entry point for ``tractor``.
     """
-    log = get_logger('tractor')
+    logger = log.get_logger('tractor')
     main = partial(async_fn, *args)
     arbiter_addr = (host, port) = arbiter_addr or (
             _default_arbiter_host, _default_arbiter_port)
-    get_console_log(kwargs.get('loglevel', get_loglevel()))
+    loglevel = kwargs.get('loglevel', log.get_loglevel())
+    if loglevel is not None:
+        log._default_loglevel = loglevel
+        log.get_console_log(loglevel)
 
     # make a temporary connection to see if an arbiter exists
     arbiter_found = False
@@ -63,11 +66,11 @@ async def _main(
         async with _connect_chan(host, port):
             arbiter_found = True
     except OSError:
-        log.warning(f"No actor could be found @ {host}:{port}")
+        logger.warning(f"No actor could be found @ {host}:{port}")
 
     # create a local actor and start up its main routine/task
     if arbiter_found:  # we were able to connect to an arbiter
-        log.info(f"Arbiter seems to exist @ {host}:{port}")
+        logger.info(f"Arbiter seems to exist @ {host}:{port}")
         actor = Actor(
             name or 'anonymous',
             arbiter_addr=arbiter_addr,
diff --git a/tractor/_trionics.py b/tractor/_trionics.py
index bf83179..7ebe37a 100644
--- a/tractor/_trionics.py
+++ b/tractor/_trionics.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ class ActorNursery:
             rpc_module_paths=[mod_path] + rpc_module_paths,
             bind_addr=bind_addr,
             statespace=statespace,
+            loglevel=loglevel,
         )
         # this marks the actor to be cancelled after its portal result
         # is retreived, see ``wait()`` below.