diff --git a/src/bin/cib.rs b/src/bin/cib.rs
index b13ac171..01efd0f0 100644
--- a/src/bin/cib.rs
+++ b/src/bin/cib.rs
@@ -61,8 +61,12 @@ struct Args {
     #[clap(long)]
     config: PathBuf,
 
-    /// Se the global log level. Log messages that on at least this
-    /// level get written to the standard error output.
+    /// Set the global log level. Log messages at this level or
+    /// higher get written to the standard error output.
+    ///
+    /// Overridden by the `RUST_LOG` environment variable when set,
+    /// which accepts per-module directives like `debug,cob=info`
+    /// for finer control over noisy dependencies.
     #[clap(long, value_enum)]
     log_level: Option<logger::LogLevel>,
 
diff --git a/src/logger.rs b/src/logger.rs
index 08700ed4..db802eeb 100644
--- a/src/logger.rs
+++ b/src/logger.rs
@@ -271,7 +271,6 @@ impl From<LogLevel> for tracing::Level {
     }
 }
 
-#[allow(clippy::unwrap_used)]
 pub fn open(level: LogLevel) {
     #[cfg(test)]
     let writer = fmt::TestWriter::new();
@@ -281,7 +280,9 @@ pub fn open(level: LogLevel) {
 
     let fmt_layer = fmt::layer().with_target(false).with_writer(writer).json();
 
-    let filter_layer = EnvFilter::try_new(level.to_string()).unwrap();
+    let filter_layer = EnvFilter::builder()
+        .with_default_directive(Level::from(level).into())
+        .from_env_lossy();
 
     tracing_subscriber::registry()
         .with(filter_layer)