diff --git a/cdist/core/manifest.py b/cdist/core/manifest.py
index 6f941550..0a26601a 100644
--- a/cdist/core/manifest.py
+++ b/cdist/core/manifest.py
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ class Manifest(object):
             '__target_host_tags': self.local.target_host_tags,
         }
 
-        if self.log.getEffectiveLevel() == logging.DEBUG:
-            self.env.update({'__cdist_debug': "yes"})
+        self.env.update(
+            {'__cdist_loglevel': str(self.log.getEffectiveLevel())})
 
     def _open_logger(self):
         self.log = logging.getLogger(self.target_host[0])
diff --git a/cdist/emulator.py b/cdist/emulator.py
index 7c9dfcca..66736643 100644
--- a/cdist/emulator.py
+++ b/cdist/emulator.py
@@ -104,10 +104,11 @@ class Emulator(object):
     def __init_log(self):
         """Setup logging facility"""
 
-        if '__cdist_debug' in self.env:
-            logging.root.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+        if '__cdist_loglevel' in self.env:
+            level = int(self.env['__cdist_loglevel'])
         else:
-            logging.root.setLevel(logging.INFO)
+            level = logging.OFF
+        logging.root.setLevel(level)
 
         self.log = logging.getLogger(self.target_host[0])
 
diff --git a/cdist/test/manifest/__init__.py b/cdist/test/manifest/__init__.py
index e0da2d9f..95bf2768 100644
--- a/cdist/test/manifest/__init__.py
+++ b/cdist/test/manifest/__init__.py
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class ManifestTestCase(test.CdistTestCase):
         current_level = self.log.getEffectiveLevel()
         self.log.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
         manifest = cdist.core.manifest.Manifest(self.target_host, self.local)
-        self.assertTrue("__cdist_debug" in manifest.env)
+        self.assertTrue("__cdist_loglevel" in manifest.env)
         self.log.setLevel(current_level)