diff --git a/piker/clearing/_client.py b/piker/clearing/_client.py
index 21edcbb7..d6c4caa2 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_client.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_client.py
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ async def relay_orders_from_sync_code(
 async def open_ems(
     fqme: str,
     mode: str = 'live',
-    loglevel: str = 'error',
+    loglevel: str = 'warning',
 
 ) -> tuple[
     OrderClient,  # client
diff --git a/piker/clearing/_ems.py b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
index 7000d012..782351c0 100644
--- a/piker/clearing/_ems.py
+++ b/piker/clearing/_ems.py
@@ -352,9 +352,21 @@ async def open_brokerd_dialog(
     broker backend, configuration, or client code usage.
 
     '''
+    get_console_log(
+        level=loglevel,
+        name='clearing',
+    )
+    # enable `.accounting` console since normally used by
+    # each `brokerd`.
+    get_console_log(
+        level=loglevel,
+        name='piker.accounting',
+    )
     broker: str = brokermod.name
 
-    def mk_paper_ep():
+    def mk_paper_ep(
+        loglevel: str,
+    ):
         from . import _paper_engine as paper_mod
 
         nonlocal brokermod, exec_mode
@@ -406,17 +418,21 @@ async def open_brokerd_dialog(
 
     if (
         trades_endpoint is not None
-        or exec_mode != 'paper'
+        or
+        exec_mode != 'paper'
     ):
         # open live brokerd trades endpoint
         open_trades_endpoint = portal.open_context(
             trades_endpoint,
+            loglevel=loglevel,
         )
 
     @acm
     async def maybe_open_paper_ep():
         if exec_mode == 'paper':
-            async with mk_paper_ep() as msg:
+            async with mk_paper_ep(
+                loglevel=loglevel,
+            ) as msg:
                 yield msg
                 return
 
@@ -427,7 +443,9 @@ async def open_brokerd_dialog(
             # runtime indication that the backend can't support live
             # order ctrl yet, so boot the paperboi B0
             if first == 'paper':
-                async with mk_paper_ep() as msg:
+                async with mk_paper_ep(
+                    loglevel=loglevel,
+                ) as msg:
                     yield msg
                     return
             else: