diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 89854dca..b513e837 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -22,5 +22,5 @@ before_script:
   - bower install
   - npm install -g istanbul
 script:
-  - ./bin/rake test
+  - FHIR_LOG_LEVEL=fatal ./bin/rake test # lower log levels overwhelm travis
   - ./bin/teaspoon
diff --git a/config/environments/test.rb b/config/environments/test.rb
index 3549423e..6bac80ce 100644
--- a/config/environments/test.rb
+++ b/config/environments/test.rb
@@ -39,4 +39,8 @@
   # config.action_view.raise_on_missing_translations = true
   
   config.active_job.queue_adapter = :inline
+
+  if ['debug', 'info', 'warn', 'error', 'fatal', 'unknown'].include? ENV['FHIR_LOG_LEVEL']&.downcase
+    FHIR::logger.level = ENV['FHIR_LOG_LEVEL'].downcase
+  end
 end