diff --git a/src/klayout_main/klayout_main/klayout.cc b/src/klayout_main/klayout_main/klayout.cc
index 5955434b7..db01f3c52 100644
--- a/src/klayout_main/klayout_main/klayout.cc
+++ b/src/klayout_main/klayout_main/klayout.cc
@@ -322,9 +322,6 @@ klayout_main (int &argc, char **argv)
 
       int v = 0;
       tl::from_string (argv [++i], v);
-      if (v < 0) {
-        v = 0;
-      }
       tl::verbosity (v);
 
     }
diff --git a/src/lay/lay/LogViewerDialog.ui b/src/lay/lay/LogViewerDialog.ui
index 011959d13..b34a79c07 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/LogViewerDialog.ui
+++ b/src/lay/lay/LogViewerDialog.ui
@@ -31,6 +31,16 @@
    </property>
    <item row="0" column="1">
     <widget class="QComboBox" name="verbosity_cbx">
+     <item>
+      <property name="text">
+       <string>No warnings, no errors</string>
+      </property>
+     </item>
+     <item>
+      <property name="text">
+       <string>No warnings</string>
+      </property>
+     </item>
      <item>
       <property name="text">
        <string>Silent</string>
diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layApplication.cc b/src/lay/lay/layApplication.cc
index d8d9150f8..7f9b5b8c0 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layApplication.cc
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layApplication.cc
@@ -312,9 +312,6 @@ ApplicationBase::parse_cmd (int &argc, char **argv)
 
       int v = 0;
       tl::from_string (args [++i], v);
-      if (v < 0) {
-        v = 0;
-      }
       tl::verbosity (v);
 
     } else if (a == "-k" && (i + 1) < argc) {
@@ -1065,7 +1062,7 @@ ApplicationBase::usage ()
   r += tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("  -b                  Batch mode (same as -zz -nc -rx)")) + "\n";
   r += tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("  -c <config file>    Use this configuration file")) + "\n";
   r += tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("  -nc                 Don't use a configuration file (implies -t)")) + "\n";
-  r += tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("  -d <debug level>    Set debug level")) + "\n";
+  r += tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("  -d <log level>      Set log level")) + "\n";
   r += tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("  -e                  Editable mode (allow editing of files)")) + "\n";
   r += tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("  -ne                 Readonly mode (editing of files is disabled)")) + "\n";
   r += tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("  -gr <file name>     Record GUI test file")) + "\n";
diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layLogViewerDialog.cc b/src/lay/lay/layLogViewerDialog.cc
index 2667339f3..811ab4c20 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layLogViewerDialog.cc
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layLogViewerDialog.cc
@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ LogReceiver::begin ()
 //  LogFile implementation
 
 LogFile::LogFile (size_t max_entries, bool register_global)
-  : m_error_receiver (this, 0, &LogFile::add_error),
+  : m_error_receiver (this, -10, &LogFile::add_error),
     m_warn_receiver (this, 0, &LogFile::add_warn),
-    m_log_receiver (this, 0, &LogFile::add_info),
+    m_log_receiver (this, 10, &LogFile::add_info),
     m_info_receiver (this, 0, &LogFile::add_info),
     m_max_entries (max_entries),
     m_generation_id (0), 
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ LogViewerDialog::LogViewerDialog (QWidget *parent, bool register_global, bool in
     verbosity_cbx->hide ();
     verbosity_label->hide ();
   } else {
-    verbosity_cbx->setCurrentIndex (std::min (4, tl::verbosity () / 10));
+    verbosity_cbx->setCurrentIndex (std::max (-2, std::min (4, tl::verbosity () / 10)) + 2);
     connect (verbosity_cbx, SIGNAL (currentIndexChanged (int)), this, SLOT (verbosity_changed (int)));
   }
 
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ LogViewerDialog::LogViewerDialog (QWidget *parent, bool register_global, bool in
 void
 LogViewerDialog::verbosity_changed (int index)
 {
-  tl::verbosity (index * 10 + 1);
+  tl::verbosity ((index - 2) * 10 + 1);
 }
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------