diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index f7688a9d..76a8ddee 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,4 +1,20 @@
 import pytest
+import tractor
+from piker import log
+
+
+def pytest_addoption(parser):
+    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):
+    orig = tractor.log._default_loglevel
+    level = tractor.log._default_loglevel = request.config.option.loglevel
+    log.get_console_log(level)
+    yield level
+    tractor.log._default_loglevel = orig
 
 
 @pytest.fixture