diff --git a/src/main/java/htsjdk/samtools/util/Log.java b/src/main/java/htsjdk/samtools/util/Log.java
index efd7b67d8..acbd3c425 100644
--- a/src/main/java/htsjdk/samtools/util/Log.java
+++ b/src/main/java/htsjdk/samtools/util/Log.java
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
     /** Enumeration for setting log levels. */
     public static enum LogLevel { ERROR, WARNING, INFO, DEBUG }
 
-    private static LogLevel globalLogLevel = LogLevel.DEBUG;
+    private static LogLevel globalLogLevel = LogLevel.INFO;
 
     private final Class<?> clazz;
     private final String className;