diff --git a/src/db/db/dbCommonReader.cc b/src/db/db/dbCommonReader.cc
index 315499971..0400621eb 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbCommonReader.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbCommonReader.cc
@@ -556,6 +556,7 @@ CommonReader::read (db::Layout &layout)
 void
 CommonReader::init (const LoadLayoutOptions &options)
 {
+  ReaderBase::init (options);
   CommonReaderBase::init ();
 
   db::CommonReaderOptions common_options = options.get_options<db::CommonReaderOptions> ();
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbCommonReader.h b/src/db/db/dbCommonReader.h
index 9610e1634..b5a5a9a19 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbCommonReader.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbCommonReader.h
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ protected:
   friend class CommonReaderLayerMapping;
 
   virtual void common_reader_error (const std::string &msg) = 0;
-  virtual void common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg) = 0;
+  virtual void common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg, int warn_level = 1) = 0;
 
   /**
    * @brief Merge (and delete) the src_cell into target_cell
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbLoadLayoutOptions.cc b/src/db/db/dbLoadLayoutOptions.cc
index 88356b4c5..4bcf972c9 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbLoadLayoutOptions.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbLoadLayoutOptions.cc
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 namespace db
 {
   LoadLayoutOptions::LoadLayoutOptions ()
+    : m_warn_level (1)
   {
     // .. nothing yet ..
   }
@@ -44,6 +45,8 @@ namespace db
   {
     if (&d != this) {
 
+      m_warn_level = d.m_warn_level;
+
       release ();
       for (std::map <std::string, FormatSpecificReaderOptions *>::const_iterator o = d.m_options.begin (); o != d.m_options.end (); ++o) {
         m_options.insert (std::make_pair (o->first, o->second->clone ()));
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbLoadLayoutOptions.h b/src/db/db/dbLoadLayoutOptions.h
index 67262f353..0062cd551 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbLoadLayoutOptions.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbLoadLayoutOptions.h
@@ -79,6 +79,26 @@ public:
    */
   ~LoadLayoutOptions ();
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets the warning level
+   *
+   *  The warning level is a reader-specific setting which enables or disables warnings
+   *  on specific levels. Level 0 is always "warnings off". The default level is 1
+   *  which means "reasonable warnings emitted".
+   */
+  int warn_level () const
+  {
+    return m_warn_level;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   *  @brief Sets the warning level
+   */
+  void set_warn_level (int w)
+  {
+    m_warn_level = w;
+  }
+
   /**
    *  @brief Sets specific options for the given format
    *
@@ -217,6 +237,7 @@ public:
 
 private:
   std::map <std::string, FormatSpecificReaderOptions *> m_options;
+  int m_warn_level;
 
   void release ();
 };
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbReader.cc b/src/db/db/dbReader.cc
index b48026113..93f49a354 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbReader.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbReader.cc
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ join_layer_names (std::string &s, const std::string &n)
 //  ReaderBase implementation
 
 ReaderBase::ReaderBase () 
-  : m_warnings_as_errors (false)
+  : m_warnings_as_errors (false), m_warn_level (1)
 { 
 }
 
@@ -75,6 +75,12 @@ ReaderBase::set_warnings_as_errors (bool f)
   m_warnings_as_errors = f;
 }
 
+void
+ReaderBase::init (const db::LoadLayoutOptions &options)
+{
+  m_warn_level = options.warn_level ();
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------
 //  Reader implementation
 
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbReader.h b/src/db/db/dbReader.h
index d4dd83d9f..53b259dca 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbReader.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbReader.h
@@ -89,8 +89,20 @@ public:
     return m_warnings_as_errors;
   }
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets the warning level
+   */
+  int warn_level () const
+  {
+    return m_warn_level;
+  }
+
+protected:
+  virtual void init (const db::LoadLayoutOptions &options);
+
 private:
   bool m_warnings_as_errors;
+  int m_warn_level;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbReader.cc b/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbReader.cc
index 2b97afcc2..d1909a6f0 100644
--- a/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbReader.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/gsiDeclDbReader.cc
@@ -384,7 +384,20 @@ namespace gsi
 
   //  NOTE: the contribution comes from format specific extensions.
   Class<db::LoadLayoutOptions> decl_LoadLayoutOptions ("db", "LoadLayoutOptions",
-    gsi::Methods (),
+    gsi::method ("warn_level=", &db::LoadLayoutOptions::set_warn_level, gsi::arg ("level"),
+      "@brief Sets the warning level.\n"
+      "The warning level is a reader-specific setting which enables or disables warnings\n"
+      "on specific levels. Level 0 is always \"warnings off\". The default level is 1\n"
+      "which means \"reasonable warnings emitted\".\n"
+      "\n"
+      "This attribute has been added in version 0.28."
+    ) +
+    gsi::method ("warn_level", &db::LoadLayoutOptions::warn_level,
+      "@brief Sets the warning level.\n"
+      "See \\warn_level= for details about this attribute.\n"
+      "\n"
+      "This attribute has been added in version 0.28."
+    ),
     "@brief Layout reader options\n"
     "\n"
     "This object describes various layer reader options used for loading layouts.\n"
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIF.h b/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIF.h
index acf233e34..023dc61ec 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIF.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIF.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Issue a warning with positional information
    */
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt) = 0;
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level = 1) = 0;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIFReader.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIFReader.cc
index 1d935a0fe..0ac05f9de 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIFReader.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIFReader.cc
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ CIFReader::~CIFReader ()
 const LayerMap &
 CIFReader::read (db::Layout &layout, const db::LoadLayoutOptions &options)
 {
+  init (options);
+
   const db::CIFReaderOptions &specific_options = options.get_options<db::CIFReaderOptions> ();
   m_wire_mode = specific_options.wire_mode;
   m_dbu = specific_options.dbu;
@@ -88,8 +90,12 @@ CIFReader::error (const std::string &msg)
 }
 
 void 
-CIFReader::warn (const std::string &msg) 
+CIFReader::warn (const std::string &msg, int wl)
 {
+  if (warn_level () < wl) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   // TODO: compress
   tl::warn << msg 
            << tl::to_string (tr (" (line=")) << m_stream.line_number ()
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIFReader.h b/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIFReader.h
index 1b5240854..ba68c91df 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIFReader.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/cif/db_plugin/dbCIFReader.h
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ public:
    *
    *  Reimplements CIFDiagnostics
    */
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt);
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level = 1);
 
 private:
   tl::TextInputStream m_stream;
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXF.h b/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXF.h
index 13ad9c55f..3fb51cfc5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXF.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXF.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Issue a warning with positional information
    */
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt) = 0;
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level = 1) = 0;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXFReader.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXFReader.cc
index d63a8b03f..fdb586b4a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXFReader.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXFReader.cc
@@ -316,6 +316,8 @@ DXFReader::determine_polyline_mode ()
 const LayerMap &
 DXFReader::read (db::Layout &layout, const db::LoadLayoutOptions &options)
 {
+  init (options);
+
   const db::DXFReaderOptions &specific_options = options.get_options<db::DXFReaderOptions> ();
 
   m_dbu = specific_options.dbu;
@@ -372,8 +374,12 @@ DXFReader::error (const std::string &msg)
 }
 
 void 
-DXFReader::warn (const std::string &msg) 
+DXFReader::warn (const std::string &msg, int wl)
 {
+  if (warn_level () < wl) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   // TODO: compress
   if (m_ascii) {
     tl::warn << msg 
@@ -2794,7 +2800,7 @@ DXFReader::read_entities (db::Layout &layout, db::Cell &cell, const db::DVector
       }
 
     } else {
-      warn ("Entity " + entity_code + " not supported - ignored.");
+      warn ("Entity " + entity_code + " not supported - ignored.", 2);
       while ((g = read_group_code()) != 0) {
         skip_value (g);
       }
@@ -2978,7 +2984,7 @@ DXFReader::skip_value (int g)
     read_int32 ();
   } else {
     if (m_ascii) {
-      warn ("Unexpected group code: " + tl::to_string (g));
+      warn ("Unexpected group code: " + tl::to_string (g), 2);
     } else {
       error ("Unexpected group code: " + tl::to_string (g));
     }
@@ -2998,7 +3004,7 @@ DXFReader::read_group_code ()
       tl::Extractor ex (m_line.c_str ()); 
       int x = 0;
       if (! ex.try_read (x) || ! ex.at_end ()) {
-        warn ("Expected an ASCII integer value - line ignored");
+        warn ("Expected an ASCII integer value - line ignored", 2);
       } else {
         return x;
       }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXFReader.h b/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXFReader.h
index 1bc2ffe24..c753cf81a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXFReader.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/dxf/db_plugin/dbDXFReader.h
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ public:
    *
    *  Reimplements DXFDiagnostics
    */
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt);
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level = 1);
 
 private:
   struct VariantKey
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/contrib/dbGDS2TextReader.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/contrib/dbGDS2TextReader.cc
index 82aa1ec7f..a63c48869 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/contrib/dbGDS2TextReader.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/contrib/dbGDS2TextReader.cc
@@ -302,8 +302,12 @@ GDS2ReaderText::error (const std::string &msg)
 }
 
 void 
-GDS2ReaderText::warn (const std::string &msg) 
+GDS2ReaderText::warn (const std::string &msg, int wl)
 {
+  if (warn_level () < wl) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   // TODO: compress
   tl::warn << msg 
            << tl::to_string (tr (", line number=")) << sStream.line_number()
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/contrib/dbGDS2TextReader.h b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/contrib/dbGDS2TextReader.h
index 8463ba5fc..65fe36857 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/contrib/dbGDS2TextReader.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/contrib/dbGDS2TextReader.h
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ private:
   void vConvertToXY(const std::string &_sArg);
 
   void error (const std::string &txt);
-  void warn (const std::string &txt);
+  void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level = 1);
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Reader.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Reader.cc
index c64725513..68b2a14f5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Reader.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Reader.cc
@@ -272,8 +272,12 @@ GDS2Reader::error (const std::string &msg)
 }
 
 void 
-GDS2Reader::warn (const std::string &msg) 
+GDS2Reader::warn (const std::string &msg, int wl)
 {
+  if (warn_level () < wl) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   // TODO: compress
   tl::warn << msg 
            << tl::to_string (tr (" (position=")) << m_stream.pos ()
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Reader.h b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Reader.h
index 8f965f222..bb32934b8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Reader.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2Reader.h
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ private:
   tl::AbsoluteProgress m_progress;
 
   virtual void error (const std::string &txt);
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt);
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int wl = 1);
 
   virtual std::string path () const;
   virtual const char *get_string ();
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2ReaderBase.h b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2ReaderBase.h
index 7f07a382b..c8632e720 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2ReaderBase.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/gds2/db_plugin/dbGDS2ReaderBase.h
@@ -101,10 +101,10 @@ private:
   void finish_element ();
 
   virtual void common_reader_error (const std::string &msg) { error (msg); }
-  virtual void common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg) { warn (msg); }
+  virtual void common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg, int warn_level = 1) { warn (msg, warn_level); }
 
   virtual void error (const std::string &txt) = 0;
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt) = 0;
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level = 1) = 0;
 
   virtual std::string path () const = 0;
   virtual const char *get_string () = 0;
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbDEFImporter.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbDEFImporter.cc
index 3368a0558..7694722dc 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbDEFImporter.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbDEFImporter.cc
@@ -52,8 +52,9 @@ struct DEFImporterGroup
   std::vector<tl::GlobPattern> comp_match;
 };
 
-DEFImporter::DEFImporter ()
-  : LEFDEFImporter ()
+DEFImporter::DEFImporter (int warn_level)
+  : LEFDEFImporter (warn_level),
+    m_lef_importer (warn_level)
 {
   //  .. nothing yet ..
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbDEFImporter.h b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbDEFImporter.h
index 432bde8a1..d29be8c07 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbDEFImporter.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbDEFImporter.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Default constructor
    */
-  DEFImporter ();
+  DEFImporter (int warn_level = 1);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Read the given LEF file prior to the DEF file
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFImporter.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFImporter.cc
index 1eafacd05..3dbdcf266 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFImporter.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFImporter.cc
@@ -914,10 +914,10 @@ LEFDEFReaderState::common_reader_error (const std::string &msg)
 }
 
 void
-LEFDEFReaderState::common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg)
+LEFDEFReaderState::common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg, int warn_level)
 {
   if (mp_importer) {
-    mp_importer->warn (msg);
+    mp_importer->warn (msg, warn_level);
   }
 }
 
@@ -1902,11 +1902,12 @@ LEFDEFReaderState::macro_cell (const std::string &mn, Layout &layout, const std:
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //  LEFDEFImporter implementation
 
-LEFDEFImporter::LEFDEFImporter ()
+LEFDEFImporter::LEFDEFImporter (int warn_level)
   : mp_progress (0), mp_stream (0), mp_reader_state (0),
     m_produce_net_props (false), m_net_prop_name_id (0),
     m_produce_inst_props (false), m_inst_prop_name_id (0),
-    m_produce_pin_props (false), m_pin_prop_name_id (0)
+    m_produce_pin_props (false), m_pin_prop_name_id (0),
+    m_warn_level (warn_level)
 {
   //  .. nothing yet ..
 }
@@ -1993,8 +1994,12 @@ LEFDEFImporter::error (const std::string &msg)
 }
 
 void 
-LEFDEFImporter::warn (const std::string &msg)
+LEFDEFImporter::warn (const std::string &msg, int wl)
 {
+  if (m_warn_level < wl) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   tl::warn << msg 
            << tl::to_string (tr (" (line=")) << mp_stream->line_number ()
            << tl::to_string (tr (", cell=")) << m_cellname
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFImporter.h b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFImporter.h
index ed0af0a49..b91e3dc50 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFImporter.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFImporter.h
@@ -1342,7 +1342,7 @@ public:
 
 protected:
   virtual void common_reader_error (const std::string &msg);
-  virtual void common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg);
+  virtual void common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg, int warn_level = 1);
 
 private:
   /**
@@ -1490,7 +1490,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Default constructor
    */
-  LEFDEFImporter ();
+  LEFDEFImporter (int warn_level);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Destructor
@@ -1520,7 +1520,7 @@ protected:
   /**
    *  @brief Issue a warning at the current location
    */
-  void warn (const std::string &msg);
+  void warn (const std::string &msg, int wl = 1);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Returns true if the reader is at the end of the file
@@ -1705,6 +1705,7 @@ private:
   bool m_produce_pin_props;
   db::property_names_id_type m_pin_prop_name_id;
   db::LEFDEFReaderOptions m_options;
+  int m_warn_level;
 
   const std::string &next ();
 };
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFPlugin.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFPlugin.cc
index bf4d35314..90e376a2f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFPlugin.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFDEFPlugin.cc
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ LEFDEFReader::format () const
 const db::LayerMap &
 LEFDEFReader::read_lefdef (db::Layout &layout, const db::LoadLayoutOptions &options, bool import_lef)
 {
+  init (options);
+
   const db::LEFDEFReaderOptions *lefdef_options = dynamic_cast<const db::LEFDEFReaderOptions *> (options.get_options (format ()));
   db::LEFDEFReaderOptions effective_options;
   if (lefdef_options) {
@@ -135,7 +137,7 @@ LEFDEFReader::read_lefdef (db::Layout &layout, const db::LoadLayoutOptions &opti
 
     tl::SelfTimer timer (tl::verbosity () >= 21, tl::to_string (tr ("Reading LEF file")));
 
-    db::LEFImporter importer;
+    db::LEFImporter importer (warn_level ());
 
     for (std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator l = effective_options.begin_lef_files (); l != effective_options.end_lef_files (); ++l) {
 
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@ LEFDEFReader::read_lefdef (db::Layout &layout, const db::LoadLayoutOptions &opti
 
     tl::SelfTimer timer (tl::verbosity () >= 21, tl::to_string (tr ("Reading DEF file")));
 
-    DEFImporter importer;
+    DEFImporter importer (warn_level ());
 
     for (std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator l = effective_options.begin_lef_files (); l != effective_options.end_lef_files (); ++l) {
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFImporter.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFImporter.cc
index 5f458d7c8..316870c7d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFImporter.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFImporter.cc
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ namespace db
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //  LEFImporter implementation
 
-LEFImporter::LEFImporter ()
+LEFImporter::LEFImporter (int warn_level)
+  : LEFDEFImporter (warn_level)
 {
   //  .. nothing yet ..
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFImporter.h b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFImporter.h
index b638d775c..6be28fc5f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFImporter.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/lefdef/db_plugin/dbLEFImporter.h
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Default constructor
    */
-  LEFImporter ();
+  LEFImporter (int warn_level);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Destructor
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAG.h b/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAG.h
index 1ed40cedf..94602e9e2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAG.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAG.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Issue a warning with positional information
    */
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt) = 0;
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level) = 0;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAGReader.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAGReader.cc
index ff5ccbe27..5e03c7b35 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAGReader.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAGReader.cc
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ MAGReader::read (db::Layout &layout)
 const LayerMap &
 MAGReader::read (db::Layout &layout, const db::LoadLayoutOptions &options)
 {
+  init (options);
+
   prepare_layers (layout);
 
   mp_klayout_tech = layout.technology ();
@@ -135,8 +137,12 @@ MAGReader::error (const std::string &msg)
 }
 
 void 
-MAGReader::warn (const std::string &msg)
+MAGReader::warn (const std::string &msg, int wl)
 {
+  if (warn_level () < wl) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   // TODO: compress
   tl::warn << msg 
            << tl::to_string (tr (" (line=")) << mp_current_stream->line_number ()
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAGReader.h b/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAGReader.h
index 1d9901732..10eeee840 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAGReader.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/magic/db_plugin/dbMAGReader.h
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ public:
    *
    *  Reimplements MAGDiagnostics
    */
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt);
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int wl = 1);
 
 private:
   tl::TextInputStream m_stream;
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASIS.h b/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASIS.h
index ec21e4937..f53ab29c2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASIS.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASIS.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Issue a warning with positional information
    */
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt) = 0;
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level = 1) = 0;
 };
 
 class RepetitionBase;
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASISReader.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASISReader.cc
index 9e732deb0..3480e0530 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASISReader.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASISReader.cc
@@ -489,8 +489,12 @@ OASISReader::error (const std::string &msg)
 }
 
 void 
-OASISReader::warn (const std::string &msg) 
+OASISReader::warn (const std::string &msg, int wl)
 {
+  if (warn_level () < wl) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (warnings_as_errors ()) {
     error (msg);
   } else {
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASISReader.h b/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASISReader.h
index 3ebab974e..db08f8fb0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASISReader.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/oasis/db_plugin/dbOASISReader.h
@@ -99,10 +99,10 @@ protected:
    *
    *  Reimplements OASISDiagnostics
    */
-  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt);
+  virtual void warn (const std::string &txt, int warn_level = 1);
 
   virtual void common_reader_error (const std::string &msg) { error (msg); }
-  virtual void common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg) { warn (msg); }
+  virtual void common_reader_warn (const std::string &msg, int warn_level = 1) { warn (msg, warn_level); }
   virtual void init (const LoadLayoutOptions &options);
   virtual void do_read (db::Layout &layout);
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberDrillFileReader.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberDrillFileReader.cc
index 3067a94ff..68e0e43bb 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberDrillFileReader.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberDrillFileReader.cc
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ namespace db
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //  GerberDrillFileReader implementation
 
-GerberDrillFileReader::GerberDrillFileReader ()
-  : GerberFileReader ()
+GerberDrillFileReader::GerberDrillFileReader (int warn_level)
+  : GerberFileReader (warn_level)
 {
   init ();
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberDrillFileReader.h b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberDrillFileReader.h
index 749997ba1..24af0d39d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberDrillFileReader.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberDrillFileReader.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class GerberDrillFileReader
   : public GerberFileReader
 {
 public:
-  GerberDrillFileReader ();
+  GerberDrillFileReader (int warn_level);
   ~GerberDrillFileReader ();
 
   double um (double u)
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberImporter.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberImporter.cc
index 7f1a64142..f0cf8cb42 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberImporter.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberImporter.cc
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ static std::string format_to_string (int l, int t, bool tz)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //  Implementation of GerberFile
 
-GerberFileReader::GerberFileReader ()
+GerberFileReader::GerberFileReader (int warn_level)
   : m_circle_points (64), m_digits_before (-1), m_digits_after (-1), m_omit_leading_zeroes (true),
     m_merge (false), m_inverse (false),
     m_dbu (0.001), m_unit (1000.0),
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ GerberFileReader::GerberFileReader ()
     m_orot (0.0), m_os (1.0), m_omx (false), m_omy (false),
     m_ep (true /*report progress*/),
     mp_layout (0), mp_top_cell (0), mp_stream (0),
-    m_progress (tl::to_string (tr ("Reading Gerber file")), 10000)
+    m_progress (tl::to_string (tr ("Reading Gerber file")), 10000),
+    m_warn_level (warn_level)
 {
   m_progress.set_format (tl::to_string (tr ("%.0f MB")));
   m_progress.set_unit (1024 * 1024);
@@ -196,8 +197,12 @@ GerberFileReader::format_string () const
 }
 
 void 
-GerberFileReader::warn (const std::string &warning)
+GerberFileReader::warn (const std::string &warning, int wl)
 {
+  if (m_warn_level < wl) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   tl::warn << warning << tl::to_string (tr (" in line ")) << mp_stream->line_number () << tl::to_string (tr (" (file ")) << mp_stream->source () << ")";
 }
 
@@ -541,18 +546,18 @@ GerberFile::layers_string () const
 //  Implementation of GerberImporter
 
 //  TODO: generalize this:
-std::vector <tl::shared_ptr<db::GerberFileReader> > get_readers ()
+std::vector <tl::shared_ptr<db::GerberFileReader> > get_readers (int warn_level)
 {
   std::vector <tl::shared_ptr<db::GerberFileReader> > readers;
-  readers.push_back (new db::GerberDrillFileReader ());
-  readers.push_back (new db::RS274XReader ());
+  readers.push_back (new db::GerberDrillFileReader (warn_level));
+  readers.push_back (new db::RS274XReader (warn_level));
   return readers;
 }
 
-GerberImporter::GerberImporter ()
+GerberImporter::GerberImporter (int warn_level)
   : m_cell_name ("PCB"), m_dbu (0.001), m_merge (false), 
     m_invert_negative_layers (false), m_border (5000), 
-    m_circle_points (64)
+    m_circle_points (64), m_warn_level (warn_level)
 {
   // .. nothing yet ..
 }
@@ -593,7 +598,7 @@ GerberImporter::scan (tl::TextInputStream &stream)
 {
   try {
 
-    std::vector <tl::shared_ptr<db::GerberFileReader> > readers = get_readers ();
+    std::vector <tl::shared_ptr<db::GerberFileReader> > readers = get_readers (0);
 
     //  determine the reader to use:
     for (std::vector <tl::shared_ptr<db::GerberFileReader> >::iterator r = readers.begin (); r != readers.end (); ++r) {
@@ -1010,7 +1015,7 @@ GerberImporter::do_read (db::Layout &layout, db::cell_index_type cell_index)
       tl::InputStream input_file (fp);
       tl::TextInputStream stream (input_file);
 
-      std::vector <tl::shared_ptr<db::GerberFileReader> > readers = get_readers ();
+      std::vector <tl::shared_ptr<db::GerberFileReader> > readers = get_readers (m_warn_level);
 
       //  determine the reader to use:
       db::GerberFileReader *reader = 0;
@@ -1115,14 +1120,16 @@ public:
     //  .. nothing yet ..
   }
 
-  virtual const db::LayerMap &read (db::Layout &layout, const db::LoadLayoutOptions & /*options*/)
-  {
-    //  TODO: too simple, should provide at least a layer filtering.
-    return read (layout);
-  }
-
   virtual const db::LayerMap &read (db::Layout &layout)
   {
+    return read (layout, db::LoadLayoutOptions ());
+  }
+
+  virtual const db::LayerMap &read (db::Layout &layout, const db::LoadLayoutOptions &options)
+  {
+    init (options);
+
+    //  TODO: too simple, should provide at least a layer filtering.
     db::GerberImportData data;
 
     std::string fn (m_stream.source ());
@@ -1132,7 +1139,7 @@ public:
 
     data.load (m_stream);
 
-    db::GerberImporter importer;
+    db::GerberImporter importer (warn_level ());
     data.setup_importer (&importer);
 
     importer.read (layout);
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberImporter.h b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberImporter.h
index 0fcf5ebc4..a5eb64494 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberImporter.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbGerberImporter.h
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Constructor
    */
-  GerberFileReader ();
+  GerberFileReader (int warn_level);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Destructor
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ protected:
   /**
    *  @brief Issue a warning
    */
-  void warn (const std::string &warning);
+  void warn (const std::string &warning, int warn_level = 1);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Issue a non-fatal error
@@ -597,6 +597,7 @@ private:
   tl::TextInputStream *mp_stream;
   tl::AbsoluteProgress m_progress;
   std::list<GraphicsState> m_graphics_stack;
+  int m_warn_level;
 
   void process_clear_polygons ();
   void swap_graphics_state (GraphicsState &state);
@@ -775,7 +776,7 @@ public:
   /**
    *  @brief Default constructor
    */
-  GerberImporter ();
+  GerberImporter (int warn_level = 1);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Scans the given file and extracts the metadata from it
@@ -1043,6 +1044,7 @@ private:
   bool m_invert_negative_layers;
   double m_border;
   int m_circle_points;
+  int m_warn_level;
   std::string m_format_string;
   std::string m_layer_styles;
   std::string m_dir;
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbRS274XReader.cc b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbRS274XReader.cc
index ee8e4eec8..627e14da6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbRS274XReader.cc
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbRS274XReader.cc
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ namespace db
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //  RS274XReader implementation
 
-RS274XReader::RS274XReader ()
-  : GerberFileReader ()
+RS274XReader::RS274XReader (int warn_level)
+  : GerberFileReader (warn_level)
 {
   init ();
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbRS274XReader.h b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbRS274XReader.h
index 77db31ee0..22c834f57 100644
--- a/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbRS274XReader.h
+++ b/src/plugins/streamers/pcb/db_plugin/dbRS274XReader.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class RS274XReader
   : public GerberFileReader
 {
 public:
-  RS274XReader ();
+  RS274XReader (int warn_level);
   ~RS274XReader ();
 
   double um (double u)
diff --git a/testdata/ruby/dbReaders.rb b/testdata/ruby/dbReaders.rb
index 47dba1771..1fe9057d3 100644
--- a/testdata/ruby/dbReaders.rb
+++ b/testdata/ruby/dbReaders.rb
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ class DBReaders_TestClass < TestBase
   def test_common_options
 
     opt = RBA::LoadLayoutOptions::new
+
+    assert_equal(opt.warn_level, 1)
+    opt.warn_level = 2
+    assert_equal(opt.warn_level, 2)
+
     lm = RBA::LayerMap::new
     lm.map(RBA::LayerInfo::new(1, 0), 2, RBA::LayerInfo::new(42, 17))
     opt.set_layer_map(lm, true)