diff --git a/private/web-wire.rkt b/private/web-wire.rkt
index 3ad8e2b..85cccbc 100644
--- a/private/web-wire.rkt
+++ b/private/web-wire.rkt
@@ -364,8 +364,9 @@
           (set-web-rkt-event-thread! h thrd)
           (set! ww-current-handle h))
         ))
-    (unless (null? args)
-      (ww-set-log-level (car args)))
+    (if (null? args)
+        (ww-set-log-level _ww-log-level)
+        (ww-set-log-level (car args)))
     ww-current-handle)
 
   (define (ww-start . args)