diff --git a/piker/ui/_app.py b/piker/ui/_app.py
index f078163d..e3fb436d 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_app.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_app.py
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ from . import _search
 from ..accounting import unpack_fqme
 from ..data._symcache import open_symcache
 from ..data.feed import install_brokerd_search
-from ..log import get_logger
+from ..log import (
+    get_logger,
+    get_console_log,
+)
 from ..service import maybe_spawn_brokerd
 from ._exec import run_qtractor
 
@@ -87,6 +90,13 @@ async def _async_main(
     Provision the "main" widget with initial symbol data and root nursery.
 
     """
+    # enable chart's console logging
+    if loglevel:
+        get_console_log(
+            level=loglevel,
+            name=__name__,
+        )
+
     # set as singleton
     _chart._godw = main_widget