diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a10741a..bf56ce7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ Use `trace` only while debugging a concrete problem. It may include submitted bi
 The `nwwebui` service has its own numeric log level:
 
 ```perl
-$nw_log_level = 1;
+$nw_log_level  = 'info';
 ```
 
 Typical meanings:
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ $smart_cups_print_command_template = '/usr/bin/lp -d %p -';
 
 # nwwebui listener settings
 $nw_bind_ip    = '0.0.0.0';
-$nw_log_level  = 1;
+$nw_log_level  = 'info';
 $nw_daemonize  = 0;
 $nw_pid_file   = '/run/mars_nwe/nwwebui.pid';
 $nw_log_file   = '/var/log/mars_nwe/nwwebui.log';
diff --git a/config.h.cmake b/config.h.cmake
index 2701a2c..7acbe57 100644
--- a/config.h.cmake
+++ b/config.h.cmake
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@
 #define LOG_PATH_DEFAULT    "@MARS_NWE_LOG_DIR@/nwwebui.log"
 
 #define LOG_LEVEL_ERROR     0
-#define LOG_LEVEL_INFO      1
-#define LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG     2
+#define LOG_LEVEL_WARNING   1
+#define LOG_LEVEL_INFO      2
+#define LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG     3
+#define LOG_LEVEL_TRACE     4
 #define LOG_LEVEL_DEFAULT   LOG_LEVEL_INFO
 
 #define DEFAULT_BIND_IP     "0.0.0.0"
diff --git a/nwwebui.c b/nwwebui.c
index dffbfe0..037bef6 100644
--- a/nwwebui.c
+++ b/nwwebui.c
@@ -91,12 +91,86 @@ static void log_reopen(const char *path)
     log_open();
 }
 
+
+static int parse_log_level(const char *value)
+{
+    char buf[64];
+    size_t i;
+
+    if (!value || !*value) {
+        return LOG_LEVEL_DEFAULT;
+    }
+
+    while (*value && isspace((unsigned char)*value)) {
+        value++;
+    }
+
+    snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s", value);
+
+    for (i = 0; buf[i]; i++) {
+        buf[i] = (char)tolower((unsigned char)buf[i]);
+    }
+
+    while (i > 0 && isspace((unsigned char)buf[i - 1])) {
+        buf[i - 1] = '\0';
+        i--;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(buf, "error") == 0 || strcmp(buf, "err") == 0 || strcmp(buf, "0") == 0) {
+        return LOG_LEVEL_ERROR;
+    }
+    if (strcmp(buf, "warning") == 0 || strcmp(buf, "warn") == 0 || strcmp(buf, "1") == 0) {
+        return LOG_LEVEL_WARNING;
+    }
+    if (strcmp(buf, "info") == 0 || strcmp(buf, "2") == 0) {
+        return LOG_LEVEL_INFO;
+    }
+    if (strcmp(buf, "debug") == 0 || strcmp(buf, "3") == 0) {
+        return LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG;
+    }
+    if (strcmp(buf, "trace") == 0 || strcmp(buf, "4") == 0) {
+        return LOG_LEVEL_TRACE;
+    }
+
+    /*
+       Compatibility with the old numeric values:
+         0 = error
+         1 = info
+         2 = debug
+
+       Named levels are preferred for new configurations.
+    */
+    if (strcmp(buf, "old-info") == 0) {
+        return LOG_LEVEL_INFO;
+    }
+
+    return LOG_LEVEL_DEFAULT;
+}
+
+static const char *log_level_name(int level)
+{
+    if (level <= LOG_LEVEL_ERROR) {
+        return "ERROR";
+    }
+    if (level == LOG_LEVEL_WARNING) {
+        return "WARNING";
+    }
+    if (level == LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG) {
+        return "DEBUG";
+    }
+    if (level >= LOG_LEVEL_TRACE) {
+        return "TRACE";
+    }
+
+    return "INFO";
+}
+
 static void log_msg(int level, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
     time_t now;
     struct tm tm_now;
     char tbuf[64];
-    const char *lvl = "INFO";
+    const char *lvl;
     va_list ap;
 
     if (level > g_log_level) {
@@ -109,11 +183,7 @@ static void log_msg(int level, const char *fmt, ...)
     localtime_r(&now, &tm_now);
     strftime(tbuf, sizeof(tbuf), "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", &tm_now);
 
-    if (level == LOG_LEVEL_ERROR) {
-        lvl = "ERROR";
-    } else if (level == LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG) {
-        lvl = "DEBUG";
-    }
+    lvl = log_level_name(level);
 
     fprintf(g_log_fp, "[%s] [%s] ", tbuf, lvl);
 
@@ -471,7 +541,7 @@ static void load_smart_conf(nw_config_t *cfg)
         if (strcmp(key, "nw_bind_ip") == 0) {
             snprintf(cfg->bind_ip, sizeof(cfg->bind_ip), "%s", val);
         } else if (strcmp(key, "nw_log_level") == 0) {
-            g_log_level = atoi(val);
+            g_log_level = parse_log_level(val);
         } else if (strcmp(key, "nw_log_file") == 0) {
             snprintf(cfg->log_file, sizeof(cfg->log_file), "%s", val);
         } else if (strcmp(key, "nw_ssl_enable") == 0) {
diff --git a/smart.conf.cmake b/smart.conf.cmake
index 30a9c0b..004cdd3 100644
--- a/smart.conf.cmake
+++ b/smart.conf.cmake
@@ -125,11 +125,19 @@ $smart_cups_print_command_template = '@CUPS_LP_EXECUTABLE@ -d %p -';
 # Use 127.0.0.1 for local-only testing.
 $nw_bind_ip = '0.0.0.0';
 
-# Log level used by nwwebui.
-# 0 = errors only
-# 1 = informational messages
-# 2 = debug messages
-$nw_log_level = 1;
+# Log level used by the native nwwebui frontend service.
+#
+# Supported values, from quiet to verbose:
+#
+#   error   - only real errors
+#   warning - errors and warnings
+#   info    - normal operational messages, default
+#   debug   - additional diagnostic information
+#   trace   - very verbose request/connection tracing
+#
+# Older numeric values are still accepted for compatibility, but named values
+# are preferred for new configurations.
+$nw_log_level = 'info';
 
 # Run nwwebui in daemon mode by default.
 # 0 = stay in foreground