diff --git a/python/nistoar/base/config.py b/python/nistoar/base/config.py
index 6a6f7be..3c40a6f 100644
--- a/python/nistoar/base/config.py
+++ b/python/nistoar/base/config.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def configure_log(logfile: str=None, level: int=None, format: str=None, config:
         level = _log_levels_byname.get(str(level), level)
     if not isinstance(level, int):
         raise ConfigurationException("Unrecognized loglevel value: "+str(level))
-    
+
     if not format:
         format = config.get('logformat', LOG_FORMAT)
     frmtr = logging.Formatter(format)
@@ -180,6 +180,14 @@ def configure_log(logfile: str=None, level: int=None, format: str=None, config:
     if level >= logging.DEBUG:
         logging.getLogger("filelock").setLevel(level+10)
 
+    # config can set levels on a per-logname basis
+    if config.get("loglevelsfor") and isinstance(config.get("loglevelsfor"), Mapping):
+        for lognm, level in config.get("loglevelsfor", {}).items():
+            if not isinstance(level, int):
+                level = _log_levels_byname.get(str(level), level)
+            if isinstance(level, int):
+                logging.getLogger(lognm).setLevel(level)
+    
     if addstderr:
         if not isinstance(addstderr, str):
             addstderr = format
diff --git a/python/tests/nistoar/base/test_config.py b/python/tests/nistoar/base/test_config.py
index 86d12eb..0f624c7 100644
--- a/python/tests/nistoar/base/test_config.py
+++ b/python/tests/nistoar/base/test_config.py
@@ -122,7 +122,10 @@ def test_from_config(self):
         cfg = {
             'logdir': tmpd,
             'logfile': logfile,
-            'loglevel': 'DEBUG'
+            'loglevel': 'DEBUG',
+            'loglevelsfor': {
+                'pymongo': 'INFO'
+            }
         }
 
         self.logfile = os.path.join(tmpd, logfile)
@@ -132,11 +135,17 @@ def test_from_config(self):
         self.assertEqual(config.global_logdir, tmpd)
         self.assertEqual(config.global_logfile, self.logfile)
 
+        self.assertEqual(self.rootlog.getEffectiveLevel(), logging.DEBUG-1)
+        self.assertEqual(config._log_handler.level, logging.DEBUG)
+        self.assertEqual(logging.getLogger("pymongo").getEffectiveLevel(), logging.INFO)
+
         self.rootlog.warning('Oops')
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(self.logfile))
         with open(self.logfile) as fd:
             words = fd.read()
         self.assertIn("Oops", words)
+
+
         
     def test_abs(self):
         self.logfile = os.path.join(tmpd, "cfgfile.log")