diff --git a/artiq/browser/log.py b/artiq/browser/log.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f660acf58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/browser/log.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import logging
+
+from artiq.protocols.logging import SourceFilter
+
+
+class LogBufferHandler(logging.Handler):
+    def __init__(self, log, *args, **kwargs):
+        logging.Handler.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+        self.log = log
+        self.setFormatter(logging.Formatter("%(name)s:%(message)s"))
+
+    def emit(self, record):
+        if self.log.model is not None:
+            self.log.model.append((record.levelno, record.source,
+                                   record.created, self.format(record)))
+
+
+def init_log(args, log):
+    root_logger = logging.getLogger()
+    root_logger.setLevel(logging.NOTSET)  # we use our custom filter only
+    flt = SourceFilter(logging.WARNING + args.quiet*10 - args.verbose*10,
+                       "browser")
+    handlers = []
+    console_handler = logging.StreamHandler()
+    console_handler.setFormatter(logging.Formatter(
+        "%(levelname)s:%(source)s:%(name)s:%(message)s"))
+    handlers.append(console_handler)
+
+    buffer_handler = LogBufferHandler(log)
+    handlers.append(buffer_handler)
+
+    for handler in handlers:
+        handler.addFilter(flt)
+        root_logger.addHandler(handler)
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_browser.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_browser.py
index 6678a9db8..01fb731da 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_browser.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_browser.py
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ from quamash import QEventLoop
 from artiq import __artiq_dir__ as artiq_dir
 from artiq.tools import verbosity_args, atexit_register_coroutine
 from artiq.gui import state, applets, models, log
-from artiq.browser import datasets, files, experiments
-from artiq.protocols.logging import SourceFilter
+from artiq.browser import datasets, files, experiments, log as browser_log
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ def main():
     atexit.register(loop.close)
 
     log_sub = models.LocalModelManager(log.Model)
-    init_log(args, log_sub)
+    browser_log.init_log(args, log_sub)
     log_sub.init([])
 
     smgr = state.StateManager(args.db_file)
@@ -140,36 +139,5 @@ def main():
     loop.run_until_complete(main_window.exit_request.wait())
 
 
-class LogBufferHandler(logging.Handler):
-    def __init__(self, log, *args, **kwargs):
-        logging.Handler.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
-        self.log = log
-        self.setFormatter(logging.Formatter("%(name)s:%(message)s"))
-
-    def emit(self, record):
-        if self.log.model is not None:
-            self.log.model.append((record.levelno, record.source,
-                                   record.created, self.format(record)))
-
-
-def init_log(args, log):
-    root_logger = logging.getLogger()
-    root_logger.setLevel(logging.NOTSET)  # we use our custom filter only
-    flt = SourceFilter(logging.WARNING + args.quiet*10 - args.verbose*10,
-                       "browser")
-    handlers = []
-    console_handler = logging.StreamHandler()
-    console_handler.setFormatter(logging.Formatter(
-        "%(levelname)s:%(source)s:%(name)s:%(message)s"))
-    handlers.append(console_handler)
-
-    buffer_handler = LogBufferHandler(log)
-    handlers.append(buffer_handler)
-
-    for handler in handlers:
-        handler.addFilter(flt)
-        root_logger.addHandler(handler)
-
-
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()