diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index e7cdfc5..01b5367 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -36,6 +36,24 @@ type CLI struct {
 	Image  ImageCmd  `cmd:"" help:"manage images"`
 
 	Version VersionFlag `name:"version" help:"print version information and quit"`
+
+	LogLevel LogLevelFlag `enum:"debug,info,warn,error" default:"info"`
+}
+
+type LogLevelFlag string
+
+func (loglevel LogLevelFlag) AfterApply() error {
+	switch loglevel {
+	case "debug":
+		zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(zerolog.DebugLevel)
+	case "info":
+		zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(zerolog.InfoLevel)
+	case "warn":
+		zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(zerolog.WarnLevel)
+	case "error":
+		zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(zerolog.ErrorLevel)
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 type VersionFlag string
diff --git a/pew.go b/pew.go
index d18dc09..3c8add3 100644
--- a/pew.go
+++ b/pew.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ type PewCmd struct {
 func (cmd PewCmd) Run(g *Globals) (err error) {
 	kcfg, err := config.ReadKernelConfig(g.Config.Kernels)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Print(err)
+		log.Debug().Err(err).Msg("read kernel config")
 	}
 
 	stop := time.Time{} // never stop