diff --git a/artiq/tools.py b/artiq/tools.py
index 5505f20b6..f65eff03b 100644
--- a/artiq/tools.py
+++ b/artiq/tools.py
@@ -37,4 +37,4 @@ def verbosity_args(parser):
 
 
 def init_logger(args):
-    logging.basicConfig(logging.INFO + args.quiet*10 - args.verbose*10)
+    logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO + args.quiet*10 - args.verbose*10)