diff --git a/letsencrypt/storage.py b/letsencrypt/storage.py
index 3b2b548b0..9614f091a 100644
--- a/letsencrypt/storage.py
+++ b/letsencrypt/storage.py
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ class RenewableCert(object):  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
         #       read further defaults from the systemwide renewal configuration
         #       file at this stage?
         self.configuration = config_with_defaults(self.configfile)
+        logger_level = self.configuration['renewalparams']['verbose_count']
+        set_logger_level(logger_level)
 
         if not all(x in self.configuration for x in ALL_FOUR):
             raise errors.CertStorageError(
@@ -129,6 +131,21 @@ class RenewableCert(object):  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
 
         self._fix_symlinks()
 
+    def set_logger_level(logger_level):
+        levels_dict = {"0" : 0,
+                       "-1" : 10,
+                       "-2" : 20,
+                       "-3" : 30,
+                       "-4" : 40,
+                       "-5" : 50}
+        if logger_level in levels_dict:
+            new_level = levels_dict[logger_level]
+        else:
+            new_level = 30
+        root_logger = logger.parent
+        root_logger.setLevel(new_level)
+        return
+
     def _consistent(self):
         """Are the files associated with this lineage self-consistent?