diff --git a/jupyterhub/app.py b/jupyterhub/app.py
index e8036719..d29403a9 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/app.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/app.py
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ class JupyterHubApp(Application):
         base_url = self.base_url
         settings = dict(
             config=self.config,
+            log=self.log,
             db=self.db,
             hub=self.hub,
             spawner_class=import_item(self.spawner_class),
@@ -216,6 +217,7 @@ class JupyterHubApp(Application):
         
     def initialize(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(JupyterHubApp, self).initialize(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.init_logging()
         self.init_db()
         self.init_hub()
         self.init_proxy()
diff --git a/jupyterhub/handlers.py b/jupyterhub/handlers.py
index e13d9a21..cdcec270 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/handlers.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/handlers.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class BaseHandler(RequestHandler):
     @property
     def log(self):
         """I can't seem to avoid typing self.log"""
-        return app_log
+        return self.settings.get('log', app_log)
     
     @property
     def config(self):