diff --git a/config/environments/production.rb b/config/environments/production.rb
index dc5dd4afd..d299e4f4c 100644
--- a/config/environments/production.rb
+++ b/config/environments/production.rb
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ Rails.application.configure do
   # Force all access to the app over SSL, use Strict-Transport-Security, and use secure cookies.
   config.force_ssl = false
 
-  # Use the lowest log level to ensure availability of diagnostic information
+  # By default, use the lowest log level to ensure availability of diagnostic information
   # when problems arise.
-  config.log_level = :debug
+  config.log_level = ENV.fetch('RAILS_LOG_LEVEL', 'debug').to_sym
 
   # Prepend all log lines with the following tags.
   config.log_tags = [:request_id]