diff --git a/src/backend/server/api.ts b/src/backend/server/api.ts
index ba4ac368..6c9e7ac0 100644
--- a/src/backend/server/api.ts
+++ b/src/backend/server/api.ts
@@ -66,14 +66,10 @@ export const setupApi = (app: ExpressWithAsync, logger: Logger, appLoggerStream:
     //let logWebLevel: LogLevel = logger.level as LogLevel || (process.env.LOG_LEVEL || 'info') as LogLevel;
 
     const logConfig: LogOutputConfig = {
-        level: logger.level as LogLevel || (process.env.LOG_LEVEL || 'info') as LogLevel,
+        level: logger.level as LogLevel || (process.env.LOG_LEVEL || 'trace') as LogLevel,
         sort: 'descending',
         limit: 50,
     }
-    if(logConfig.level === 'trace') {
-        // init web logging with debug so its easier to see startup logs
-        logConfig.level = 'debug';
-    }
 
     let logObjectStream: Transform;
     try {
diff --git a/src/client/logs/LogsSection.tsx b/src/client/logs/LogsSection.tsx
index 1dd47fe0..504fbd76 100644
--- a/src/client/logs/LogsSection.tsx
+++ b/src/client/logs/LogsSection.tsx
@@ -46,12 +46,13 @@ const LogsSection = (props: PropsFromRedux) => {
         logs,
         settings,
         settings: {
-            limit = 50
+            limit = 50,
+            level
         }
     } = props;
 
     const [logList, setLogList] = useState(logBuffer);
-    const [logLevel, setLogLevel] = useState('debug')
+    const [logLevel, setLogLevel] = useState(level ?? 'trace')
 
     useGetLogsQuery(undefined);
 
diff --git a/src/client/logs/logDucks.ts b/src/client/logs/logDucks.ts
index 1d40f9a4..0cc92c27 100644
--- a/src/client/logs/logDucks.ts
+++ b/src/client/logs/logDucks.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ export interface LogsState {
     data: (LogDataPretty & {levelLabel: string})[],
     settings: LogOutputConfig
 }
-const initialState: LogsState = {data: [], settings: {level: 'debug', sort: 'asc', limit: 50}};
+const initialState: LogsState = {data: [], settings: {level: 'trace', sort: 'desc', limit: 50}};
 const logsReducer = createReducer(initialState, (builder) => {
    builder
        .addMatcher(