diff --git a/cmd/notary-server/config.go b/cmd/notary-server/config.go
index 21c0cba772..52856a2813 100644
--- a/cmd/notary-server/config.go
+++ b/cmd/notary-server/config.go
@@ -301,19 +301,19 @@ func reloadConfig(sig os.Signal, configFile string, oldConfig *viper.Viper, envP
 		switch sig {
 		case syscall.SIGUSR1:
 			if err := utils.AdjustLogLevel(true); err != nil {
-				fmt.Println("Increase log level failed, will use the old one, error: ", err)
+				fmt.Printf("Attempt to increase log level failed, will remain at %s level, error: %s", logrus.GetLevel(), err)
 				return
 			}
 		case syscall.SIGUSR2:
 			if err := utils.AdjustLogLevel(false); err != nil {
-				fmt.Println("Decrease log level failed, will use the old one, error: ", err)
+				fmt.Printf("Attempt to decrease log level failed, will remain at %s level, error: %s", logrus.GetLevel(), err)
 				return
 			}
 		case syscall.SIGHUP:
 			// We use SIGHUP to allow people to reset the logging level as their wish.
 			lvl, err := utils.ParseLogLevel(config, logrus.ErrorLevel)
 			if err != nil {
-				fmt.Println("Parse log level failed, will use the old one, error: ", err)
+				fmt.Printf("Attempt to reset log level failed, will remain at %s level, error: %s", logrus.GetLevel(), err)
 				return
 			}
 			logrus.SetLevel(lvl)
diff --git a/cmd/notary-server/main_test.go b/cmd/notary-server/main_test.go
index 0089b62b43..06b0427817 100644
--- a/cmd/notary-server/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/notary-server/main_test.go
@@ -425,7 +425,6 @@ func TestReloadConfig(t *testing.T) {
 
 	v := viper.New()
 	utils.SetupViper(v, "envPrefix")
-	//v.SetConfigType("json")
 	err = utils.ParseViper(v, f.Name())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/server-config.md b/docs/reference/server-config.md
index 31a2ca4b28..004ec41b3d 100644
--- a/docs/reference/server-config.md
+++ b/docs/reference/server-config.md
@@ -363,9 +363,9 @@ Example:
 
 ## Hot configuration reload
 We don't support to hot reload everything at present. What we support for now is:
-- increase logging level by signal `SIGUSR1`
-- decrease logging level by signal `SIGUSR2`
-- hot reload logging level from the config file by signal `SIGHUP`
+- increase logging level by signaling `SIGUSR1`
+- decrease logging level by signaling `SIGUSR2`
+- hot reload logging level from the config file by signaling `SIGHUP`
 
 Example: