diff --git a/openwebrx.conf b/openwebrx.conf
index 32a0f77..544f037 100644
--- a/openwebrx.conf
+++ b/openwebrx.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 [core]
 data_directory = /var/lib/openwebrx
 temporary_directory = /tmp
+log_level = INFO
 
 [web]
 port = 8073
diff --git a/owrx/__main__.py b/owrx/__main__.py
index 1bf8f4b..b7a17b0 100644
--- a/owrx/__main__.py
+++ b/owrx/__main__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import logging
 
 # the linter will complain about this, but the logging must be configured before importing all the other modules
-logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG, format="%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s")
+# loglevel will be adjusted later, INFO is just for the startup
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format="%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s")
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 from http.server import HTTPServer
@@ -51,10 +52,6 @@ def main():
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
-    # set loglevel to info for CLI commands
-    if args.module is not None and not args.debug:
-        logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging.INFO)
-
     if args.version:
         print("OpenWebRX version {version}".format(version=openwebrx_version))
         return 0
@@ -65,10 +62,10 @@ def main():
     if args.module == "config":
         return run_admin_action(configparser, args)
 
-    return start_receiver()
+    return start_receiver(loglevel=logging.DEBUG if args.debug else None)
 
 
-def start_receiver():
+def start_receiver(loglevel=None):
     print(
         """
 
@@ -91,6 +88,9 @@ Support and info:       https://groups.io/g/openwebrx
     Config.validateConfig()
     coreConfig = CoreConfig()
 
+    # passed loglevel takes priority (used for the --debug argument)
+    logging.getLogger().setLevel(coreConfig.get_log_level() if loglevel is None else loglevel)
+
     featureDetector = FeatureDetector()
     failed = featureDetector.get_failed_requirements("core")
     if failed:
diff --git a/owrx/config/core.py b/owrx/config/core.py
index e22f004..1c9e03d 100644
--- a/owrx/config/core.py
+++ b/owrx/config/core.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class CoreConfig(object):
         CoreConfig.checkDirectory(self.data_directory, "data_directory")
         self.temporary_directory = config.get("core", "temporary_directory")
         CoreConfig.checkDirectory(self.temporary_directory, "temporary_directory")
+        self.log_level = config.get("core", "log_level")
         self.web_port = config.getint("web", "port")
         self.aprs_symbols_path = config.get("aprs", "symbols_path")
 
@@ -57,3 +58,6 @@ class CoreConfig(object):
 
     def get_aprs_symbols_path(self):
         return self.aprs_symbols_path
+
+    def get_log_level(self):
+        return self.log_level