diff --git a/fairmq/DeviceRunner.cxx b/fairmq/DeviceRunner.cxx
index 14682076..afbf0eca 100644
--- a/fairmq/DeviceRunner.cxx
+++ b/fairmq/DeviceRunner.cxx
@@ -56,7 +56,9 @@ bool DeviceRunner::HandleGeneralOptions(const fair::mq::ProgOptions& config, boo
             fair::Logger::SetConsoleSeverity("nolog");
         } else {
             fair::Logger::SetConsoleColor(color);
-            fair::Logger::SetConsoleSeverity(severity);
+            if (severity != "") {
+                fair::Logger::SetConsoleSeverity(severity);
+            }
         }
 
         if (printLogo) {
diff --git a/fairmq/ProgOptions.cxx b/fairmq/ProgOptions.cxx
index 5f799705..6565fea5 100644
--- a/fairmq/ProgOptions.cxx
+++ b/fairmq/ProgOptions.cxx
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ ProgOptions::ProgOptions()
     fAllOptions.add_options()
         ("help,h",                                                      "Print help")
         ("version,v",                                                   "Print version")
-        ("severity",      po::value<string>()->default_value("debug"),  "Log severity level (console): trace, debug, info, state, warn, error, fatal, nolog")
+        ("severity",      po::value<string>()->default_value(""),       "Log severity level (console): trace, debug, info, state, warn, error, fatal, nolog.")
         ("file-severity", po::value<string>()->default_value("debug"),  "Log severity level (file): trace, debug, info, state, warn, error, fatal, nolog")
         ("verbosity",     po::value<string>()->default_value("medium"), "Log verbosity level: veryhigh, high, medium, low")
         ("color",         po::value<bool  >()->default_value(true),     "Log color (true/false)")
diff --git a/test/helper/devices/TestErrorState.h b/test/helper/devices/TestErrorState.h
index 42b89dea..e7e7af78 100644
--- a/test/helper/devices/TestErrorState.h
+++ b/test/helper/devices/TestErrorState.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Init");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Bind");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Connect");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("InitTask");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("PreRun");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Run");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("PostRun");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("ResetTask");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class ErrorState : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Reset");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "going to change to Error state from " << state << "()";
             ChangeState(fair::mq::Transition::ErrorFound);
         }
     }
diff --git a/test/helper/devices/TestSignals.h b/test/helper/devices/TestSignals.h
index f85a1a97..474cb764 100644
--- a/test/helper/devices/TestSignals.h
+++ b/test/helper/devices/TestSignals.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Init");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Bind");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Connect");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("InitTask");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("PreRun");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Run");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("PostRun");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("ResetTask");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class Signals : public FairMQDevice
     {
         std::string state("Reset");
         if (std::string::npos != GetId().find("_" + state + "_")) {
-            LOG(debug) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
+            LOG(info) << "raising SIGINT from " << state << "()";
             raise(SIGINT);
         }
     }