diff --git a/openerp/netsvc.py b/openerp/netsvc.py
index c0dffed5914..5adaba6eb3c 100644
--- a/openerp/netsvc.py
+++ b/openerp/netsvc.py
@@ -190,8 +190,25 @@ def init_logger():
 
     # Configure handlers
     logconfig = tools.config['log_handler']
-    for logconfig_item in logconfig:
-        _logger.debug('logger level set: "%s"', logconfig_item)
+    if tools.config['log_level'] == 'info':
+        pseudo_config = []
+    elif tools.config['log_level'] == 'debug_rpc':
+        pseudo_config = ['openerp.netsvc.rpc.request:DEBUG']
+    elif tools.config['log_level'] == 'debug_rpc_answer':
+        pseudo_config = ['openerp.netsvc.rpc.request:DEBUG', 'openerp.netsvc.rpc.response:DEBUG']
+    elif tools.config['log_level'] == 'debug':
+        pseudo_config = ['openerp:DEBUG']
+    elif tools.config['log_level'] == 'critical':
+        pseudo_config = ['openerp:CRITICAL']
+    elif tools.config['log_level'] == 'test':
+        pseudo_config = ['openerp:TEST']
+    elif tools.config['log_level'] == 'error':
+        pseudo_config = ['openerp:ERROR']
+    elif tools.config['log_level'] == 'warn':
+        pseudo_config = ['openerp:WARNING']
+    elif tools.config['log_level'] == 'debug_sql':
+        pseudo_config = ['openerp.sql_db:DEBUG']
+    for logconfig_item in logconfig + pseudo_config:
         loggername, level = logconfig_item.split(':')
         level = getattr(logging, level, logging.INFO)
         logger = logging.getLogger(loggername)
@@ -201,6 +218,8 @@ def init_logger():
         if loggername != '':
             logger.propagate = False
 
+    for logconfig_item in logconfig + pseudo_config:
+        _logger.debug('logger level set: "%s"', logconfig_item)
 
 # A alternative logging scheme for automated runs of the
 # server intended to test it.
diff --git a/openerp/tools/config.py b/openerp/tools/config.py
index 9d6ab3e0447..d628447a7a8 100644
--- a/openerp/tools/config.py
+++ b/openerp/tools/config.py
@@ -184,6 +184,12 @@ class configmanager(object):
         group.add_option('--log-response', action="append_const", dest="log_handler", const="openerp.netsvc.rpc.response:DEBUG", help='shortcut for --log-handler=openerp.netsvc.rpc.response:DEBUG')
         group.add_option('--log-web', action="append_const", dest="log_handler", const="openerp.addons.web.common.http:DEBUG", help='shortcut for --log-handler=openerp.addons.web.common.http:DEBUG')
         group.add_option('--log-sql', action="append_const", dest="log_handler", const="openerp.sql_db:DEBUG", help='shortcut for --log-handler=openerp.sql_db:DEBUG')
+        # For backward-compatibility, map the old log levels to something
+        # quite close.
+        levels = ['info', 'debug_rpc', 'warn', 'test', 'critical',
+            'debug_sql', 'error', 'debug', 'debug_rpc_answer', 'notset']
+        group.add_option('--log-level', dest='log_level', type='choice', choices=levels,
+            my_default='info', help='specify the level of the logging. Accepted values: ' + str(levels) + ' (deprecated option).')
 
         parser.add_option_group(group)
 
@@ -369,7 +375,7 @@ class configmanager(object):
                 'netrpc', 'xmlrpc', 'syslog', 'without_demo', 'timezone',
                 'xmlrpcs_interface', 'xmlrpcs_port', 'xmlrpcs',
                 'static_http_enable', 'static_http_document_root', 'static_http_url_prefix',
-                'secure_cert_file', 'secure_pkey_file', 'dbfilter', 'log_handler'
+                'secure_cert_file', 'secure_pkey_file', 'dbfilter', 'log_handler', 'log_level'
                 ]
 
         for arg in keys: