diff --git a/ocrd/decorators.py b/ocrd/decorators.py
index e1f2e8c7c..b19fa10d0 100644
--- a/ocrd/decorators.py
+++ b/ocrd/decorators.py
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 from ocrd.constants import VERSION as OCRD_VERSION
 from ocrd.resolver import Resolver
 from ocrd.processor.base import run_processor
-from ocrd.utils import logging
+from ocrd.utils import setOverrideLogLevel
 
-def _set_root_logger_version(ctx, param, value):
-    logging.getLogger('').setLevel(logging.getLevelName(value))
+def _set_root_logger_version(ctx, param, value):    # pylint: disable=unused-argument
+    setOverrideLogLevel(value)
 
 def ocrd_cli_wrap_processor(processorClass, ocrd_tool=None, mets=None, working_dir=None, dump_json=False, version=False, **kwargs):
     if dump_json:
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ def cli(mets_url):
         click.option('-p', '--parameter', type=click.Path()),
         click.option('-J', '--dump-json', help="Dump tool description as JSON and exit", is_flag=True, default=False),
         click.option('-l', '--log-level', help="Log level",
-            type=click.Choice(['OFF', 'ERROR', 'WARN', 'INFO', 'DEBUG', 'TRACE']),
-            default='INFO', callback=_set_root_logger_version),
+                     type=click.Choice(['OFF', 'ERROR', 'WARN', 'INFO', 'DEBUG', 'TRACE']),
+                     default='INFO', callback=_set_root_logger_version),
         click.option('-V', '--version', help="Show version", is_flag=True, default=False)
     ]
     for param in params:
diff --git a/ocrd/logging.py b/ocrd/logging.py
index 3d2206715..c7f6cf724 100644
--- a/ocrd/logging.py
+++ b/ocrd/logging.py
@@ -11,17 +11,20 @@
 
 These files will be executed in the context of ocrd/ocrd_logging.py, with `logging` global set.
 """
+# pylint: disable=no-member
+
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 import logging
 import os
 
-__all__ = ['logging', 'getLogger', 'getLevelName']
+__all__ = ['logging', 'getLogger', 'getLevelName', 'setOverrideLogLevel']
+
+_overrideLogLevel = None
 
 _ocrdLevel2pythonLevel = {
     'TRACE':    'DEBUG',
-    'OFF':      'NOTSET',
-    'CRITICAL': 'ERROR',
+    'OFF':      'CRITICAL',
     'FATAL':    'ERROR',
 }
 
@@ -32,8 +35,31 @@ def getLevelName(lvl):
     lvl = _ocrdLevel2pythonLevel.get(lvl, lvl)
     return logging.getLevelName(lvl)
 
+def setOverrideLogLevel(lvl):
+    """
+    Override all logger filter levels to include lvl and above.
+
+
+    - Set root logger level
+    - iterates all existing loggers and sets their log level to ``NOTSET``.
+
+    Args:
+        lvl (string): Log level name.
+    """
+    lvl = getLevelName(lvl)
+    _overrideLogLevel = lvl
+    logging.getLogger('').setLevel(lvl)
+    for loggerName in logging.Logger.manager.loggerDict:
+        logger = logging.Logger.manager.loggerDict[loggerName]
+        if isinstance(logger, logging.PlaceHolder):
+            continue
+        logger.setLevel(logging.NOTSET)
+
 def getLogger(*args, **kwargs):
-    return logging.getLogger(*args, **kwargs)
+    logger = logging.getLogger(*args, **kwargs)
+    if _overrideLogLevel is not None:
+        logger.setLevel(logging.NOTSET)
+    return logger
 
 # Default logging config
 
diff --git a/ocrd/utils.py b/ocrd/utils.py
index f37311056..4627be4b6 100644
--- a/ocrd/utils.py
+++ b/ocrd/utils.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 import re
 import sys
 
-from ocrd.logging import getLogger, logging
+from ocrd.logging import *
 
 def points_from_xywh(box):
     """