diff --git a/docker/api/Dockerfile b/docker/api/Dockerfile
index 77f0ddfb..663d5fad 100644
--- a/docker/api/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/api/Dockerfile
@@ -18,4 +18,5 @@ COPY wrolpi /opt/wrolpi/wrolpi
 COPY modules /opt/wrolpi/modules
 
 ENTRYPOINT [ "python3", "-OO", "/opt/wrolpi/main.py"]
-CMD ["-v", "api", "--host", "0.0.0.0"]
+# Log level controlled by LOG_LEVEL env var or wrolpi.yaml config (default: info)
+CMD ["api", "--host", "0.0.0.0"]
diff --git a/wrolpi/common.py b/wrolpi/common.py
index 207ccdde..296e50eb 100644
--- a/wrolpi/common.py
+++ b/wrolpi/common.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from wrolpi.dates import now, from_timestamp
 from wrolpi.errors import WROLModeEnabled, NativeOnly, LogLevelError, InvalidConfig, \
     ValidationError
+from wrolpi.log_levels import TRACE_LEVEL, name_to_int as log_level_name_to_int, int_to_name as log_level_int_to_name
 from wrolpi.vars import PYTEST, DOCKERIZED, CONFIG_DIR, MEDIA_DIRECTORY, DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS
 
 
@@ -176,8 +177,7 @@ class TraceLogger(logging.Logger):
 logger: TraceLogger = logging.getLogger()  # noqa Not really a TraceLogger, but I wanted IDE suggestions.
 logging.config.dictConfig(LOGGING_CONFIG)
 
-# Add extra verbose debug level (-vvv)
-TRACE_LEVEL = logging.DEBUG - 5
+# Add extra verbose debug level (-vvv). TRACE_LEVEL imported from log_levels.
 if not hasattr(logging, 'TRACE'):
     add_logging_level('TRACE', TRACE_LEVEL)
 
@@ -705,6 +705,7 @@ class WROLPiConfigValidator:
     hotspot_password: str = None
     hotspot_ssid: str = None
     ignore_outdated_zims: bool = None
+    log_level: str = None
     map_destination: str = None
     nav_color: str = None
     throttle_on_startup: bool = None
@@ -769,6 +770,7 @@ class WROLPiConfig(ConfigFile):
         check_for_upgrades=True,
         ignore_outdated_zims=False,
         ignored_directories=['config', 'tags'],
+        log_level='info',
         map_destination='map',
         nav_color='violet',
         throttle_on_startup=False,
@@ -877,6 +879,14 @@ class WROLPiConfig(ConfigFile):
     def ignore_outdated_zims(self, value: bool):
         self.update({'ignore_outdated_zims': value})
 
+    @property
+    def log_level(self) -> str:
+        return self._config.get('log_level', 'info')
+
+    @log_level.setter
+    def log_level(self, value: str):
+        self.update({'log_level': value})
+
     @property
     def check_for_upgrades(self) -> bool:
         return self._config.get('check_for_upgrades', True)
diff --git a/wrolpi/conftest.py b/wrolpi/conftest.py
index 4bcb9ea5..cf60a2b3 100644
--- a/wrolpi/conftest.py
+++ b/wrolpi/conftest.py
@@ -100,13 +100,9 @@ def test_session() -> Session:
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def test_debug_logger(request):
-    """The tests use debug logging by default.  Use pytest's verbosity level if set."""
-    level = logging.INFO
-    verbose = request.config.option.verbose
-    if verbose == 2:
-        # -vv
-        level = logging.DEBUG
-    elif verbose == 3:
+    """Tests default to DEBUG logging. Use pytest -vvv for TRACE level."""
+    level = logging.DEBUG
+    if request.config.option.verbose >= 3:
         # -vvv
         level = TRACE_LEVEL
 
diff --git a/wrolpi/log_levels.py b/wrolpi/log_levels.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..05d1870e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wrolpi/log_levels.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+"""
+Log level utilities.
+
+IMPORTANT: Keep this module minimal with NO imports from wrolpi to avoid circular imports.
+This module is imported very early by vars.py.
+"""
+import logging
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+
+TRACE_LEVEL = 5
+
+LOG_LEVELS = {
+    'critical': logging.CRITICAL,
+    'warning': logging.WARNING,
+    'info': logging.INFO,
+    'debug': logging.DEBUG,
+    'trace': TRACE_LEVEL,
+}
+
+
+def name_to_int(name: str) -> int:
+    """Convert log level name to integer. Defaults to INFO for invalid names."""
+    return LOG_LEVELS.get(str(name).lower(), logging.INFO)
+
+
+def int_to_name(level: int) -> str:
+    """Convert log level integer to name. Defaults to 'info' for invalid levels."""
+    for name, value in LOG_LEVELS.items():
+        if value == level:
+            return name
+    return 'info'
+
+
+def get_log_level_from_env_or_config() -> int:
+    """
+    Get log level from environment variable or config file.
+
+    Priority:
+    1. LOG_LEVEL environment variable
+    2. log_level in wrolpi.yaml config file
+    3. Default to INFO
+
+    NOTE: CLI flags are handled separately by main.py argparse and take highest priority.
+    This function is called during vars.py import (very early), before argparse runs.
+    """
+    # 1. Environment variable (highest priority at this stage)
+    if env_level := os.environ.get('LOG_LEVEL'):
+        return name_to_int(env_level)
+
+    # 2. Config file
+    try:
+        import yaml
+        media_dir = Path(os.environ.get('MEDIA_DIRECTORY', '/media/wrolpi'))
+        config_path = media_dir / 'config/wrolpi.yaml'
+        if config_path.is_file():
+            with open(config_path) as f:
+                config = yaml.safe_load(f)
+                if config and 'log_level' in config:
+                    return name_to_int(config['log_level'])
+    except Exception:
+        pass  # Config doesn't exist or is invalid, use default
+
+    # 3. Default
+    return logging.INFO
diff --git a/wrolpi/root_api.py b/wrolpi/root_api.py
index 808eda23..34a1690b 100644
--- a/wrolpi/root_api.py
+++ b/wrolpi/root_api.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from wrolpi.api_utils import json_response, api_app
 from wrolpi.collections.api import collection_bp
 from wrolpi.common import logger, get_wrolpi_config, wrol_mode_enabled, get_media_directory, \
     wrol_mode_check, native_only, disable_wrol_mode, enable_wrol_mode, get_global_statistics, url_strip_host, \
-    set_global_log_level, get_relative_to_media_directory, search_other_estimates
+    set_global_log_level, get_relative_to_media_directory, search_other_estimates, log_level_int_to_name
 from wrolpi.config_api import config_bp
 from wrolpi.dates import now
 from wrolpi.downloader import download_manager
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ async def update_settings(_: Request, body: schema.SettingsRequest):
     log_level = new_config.pop('log_level', None)
     if isinstance(log_level, int):
         set_global_log_level(log_level)
+        # Persist log level to config
+        wrolpi_config.log_level = log_level_int_to_name(log_level)
 
     old_password = wrolpi_config.hotspot_password
     wrolpi_config.update(new_config)
diff --git a/wrolpi/vars.py b/wrolpi/vars.py
index a9b8e95e..2818e71b 100644
--- a/wrolpi/vars.py
+++ b/wrolpi/vars.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import logging
 import multiprocessing
 import os
 import pathlib
@@ -45,12 +44,10 @@ def list_var(name: str, default='') -> List[str]:
     return [i for i in os.environ.get(name, default).split(',')]
 
 
-LOG_LEVEL_INT = logging.INFO
-if '-vv' in sys.argv:
-    LOG_LEVEL_INT = logging.DEBUG
-elif '-vvv' in sys.argv:
-    # SQLAlchemy will increase logging.
-    LOG_LEVEL_INT = logging.DEBUG - 5
+from wrolpi.log_levels import get_log_level_from_env_or_config
+
+# Get initial log level from ENV or config. CLI flags are handled by main.py argparse.
+LOG_LEVEL_INT = get_log_level_from_env_or_config()
 
 # Special environment variable set in the docker/api/Dockerfile.
 DOCKERIZED = truthy_arg(os.environ.get('DOCKER', ''))