diff --git a/falco.yaml b/falco.yaml
index d9a0d9d7..9a7be23e 100644
--- a/falco.yaml
+++ b/falco.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ json_output: false
 log_stderr: true
 log_syslog: true
 
+# Minimum log level to include in logs. Note: these levels are
+# separate from the priority field of rules. This refers only to the
+# log level of falco's internal logging. Can be one of "emergency",
+# "alert", "critical", "error", "warning", "notice", "info", "debug".
+log_level: info
+
 
 # Where security notifications should go.
 # Multiple outputs can be enabled.
diff --git a/userspace/falco/configuration.cpp b/userspace/falco/configuration.cpp
index 63716d72..429efde4 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/configuration.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/configuration.cpp
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ void falco_configuration::init(string conf_filename, list<string> &cmdline_optio
 		throw invalid_argument("Error reading config file (" + m_config_file + "): No outputs configured. Please configure at least one output file output enabled but no filename in configuration block");
 	}
 
+	string log_level = m_config->get_scalar<string>("log_level", "info");
+
+	falco_logger::set_level(log_level);
+
 	falco_logger::log_stderr = m_config->get_scalar<bool>("log_stderr", false);
 	falco_logger::log_syslog = m_config->get_scalar<bool>("log_syslog", true);
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/logger.cpp b/userspace/falco/logger.cpp
index aa60fb27..e651be0c 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/logger.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/logger.cpp
@@ -20,18 +20,62 @@ along with falco.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "logger.h"
 #include "chisel_api.h"
 
+#include "falco_common.h"
+
 const static struct luaL_reg ll_falco [] =
 {
 	{"syslog", &falco_logger::syslog},
 	{NULL,NULL}
 };
 
+int falco_logger::level = LOG_INFO;
 
 void falco_logger::init(lua_State *ls)
 {
 	luaL_openlib(ls, "falco", ll_falco, 0);
 }
 
+void falco_logger::set_level(string &level)
+{
+	if(level == "emergency")
+	{
+		falco_logger::level = LOG_EMERG;
+	}
+	else if(level == "alert")
+	{
+		falco_logger::level = LOG_ALERT;
+	}
+	else if(level == "critical")
+	{
+		falco_logger::level = LOG_CRIT;
+	}
+	else if(level == "error")
+	{
+		falco_logger::level = LOG_ERR;
+	}
+	else if(level == "warning")
+	{
+		falco_logger::level = LOG_WARNING;
+	}
+	else if(level == "notice")
+	{
+		falco_logger::level = LOG_NOTICE;
+	}
+	else if(level == "info")
+	{
+		falco_logger::level = LOG_INFO;
+	}
+	else if(level == "debug")
+	{
+		falco_logger::level = LOG_DEBUG;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		throw falco_exception("Unknown log level " + level);
+	}
+}
+
+
 int falco_logger::syslog(lua_State *ls) {
 	int priority = luaL_checknumber(ls, 1);
 
@@ -49,6 +93,12 @@ bool falco_logger::log_stderr = true;
 bool falco_logger::log_syslog = true;
 
 void falco_logger::log(int priority, const string msg) {
+
+	if(priority > falco_logger::level)
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (falco_logger::log_syslog) {
 		::syslog(priority, "%s", msg.c_str());
 	}
diff --git a/userspace/falco/logger.h b/userspace/falco/logger.h
index e0f0e2bf..dd5759df 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/logger.h
+++ b/userspace/falco/logger.h
@@ -32,11 +32,15 @@ class falco_logger
  public:
 	static void init(lua_State *ls);
 
+	// Will throw exception if level is unknown.
+	static void set_level(string &level);
+
 	// value = falco.syslog(level, message)
 	static int syslog(lua_State *ls);
 
 	static void log(int priority, const string msg);
 
+	static int level;
 	static bool log_stderr;
 	static bool log_syslog;
 };