diff --git a/neo/__init__.py b/neo/__init__.py
index d670296deaee7ff431124f7f630576013cdf97d8..9c495d9bce7a2aecefb6d73c37d4369195aba637 100644
--- a/neo/__init__.py
+++ b/neo/__init__.py
@@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ def setupLog(name='NEO', filename=None, verbose=False):
     else:
         handler = logging_std.FileHandler(filename)
     handler.setFormatter(logging_std.Formatter(fmt))
-    handler.setLevel(level)
+    logging.setLevel(level)
     logging.addHandler(handler)