diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/Cmds.py b/tools/python/jwutils/Cmds.py
index 7e1ff51..93ec98c 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/Cmds.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/Cmds.py
@@ -14,10 +14,26 @@ class Cmds: # export
         self.__description = description
         self.__filter = filter
         self.__modules = modules
+        default_log_level = jwutils.log.NOTICE
+        default_log_flags = 'stderr,position,prio,color'
+        # poor man's parsing in the absence of a complete command-line definition
+        for i in range(1, len(sys.argv)):
+            if i >= len(sys.argv) - 1:
+                break
+            arg = sys.argv[i]
+            if arg == '--log-level':
+                i += 1
+                default_log_level = sys.argv[i]
+                continue
+            if arg == '--log-flags':
+                default_log_flags = sys.argv[i]
+                continue
+        jwutils.log.set_flags(default_log_flags)
+        jwutils.log.set_level(default_log_level)
         self.__parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(usage=os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]) + ' [command] [options]',
             formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter, description=self.__description)
-        self.__parser.add_argument('--log-flags', help='Log flags', default='stderr,position,prio,color')
-        self.__parser.add_argument('--log-level', help='Log level', default=jwutils.log.NOTICE)
+        self.__parser.add_argument('--log-flags', help='Log flags', default=default_log_flags)
+        self.__parser.add_argument('--log-level', help='Log level', default=default_log_level)
         self.eloop = eloop
         self.__own_eloop = False
         if eloop is None:
@@ -39,10 +55,9 @@ class Cmds: # export
                 cmd.add_parser(subparsers)
 
     async def __run(self):
-    #async def __run(self):
         args = self.__parser.parse_args()
-        jwutils.log.set_level(args.log_level)
         jwutils.log.set_flags(args.log_flags)
+        jwutils.log.set_level(args.log_level)
         return await args.func(args)
 
     def __del__(self):