diff --git a/spinn_utilities/conf_loader.py b/spinn_utilities/conf_loader.py
index 94328016..f1391541 100644
--- a/spinn_utilities/conf_loader.py
+++ b/spinn_utilities/conf_loader.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-from configparser import NoOptionError
 import logging
 import os
 from typing import Callable, Dict, List, Sequence, Tuple, Union
@@ -25,6 +24,7 @@
 from spinn_utilities.configs import (
     CamelCaseConfigParser, ConfigTemplateException,
     NoConfigFoundException, UnexpectedConfigException)
+
 logger = log.FormatAdapter(logging.getLogger(__name__))
 _SectionParser: TypeAlias = Callable[[CamelCaseConfigParser], None]
 
@@ -98,28 +98,6 @@ def install_cfg_and_error(
     return NoConfigFoundException(msg)
 
 
-def logging_parser(config: CamelCaseConfigParser):
-    """
-    Create the root logger with the given level.
-
-    Create filters based on logging levels
-
-    .. note::
-        You do not normally need to call this function; it is used
-        automatically to parse Logging configuration sections.
-    """
-    try:
-        if config.getboolean("Logging", "instantiate"):
-            level = config.get("Logging", "default").upper()
-            logging.basicConfig(level=level)
-        for handler in logging.root.handlers:
-            handler.addFilter(
-                log.ConfiguredFilter(config))  # type: ignore[arg-type]
-            handler.setFormatter(log.ConfiguredFormatter(config))
-    except NoOptionError:
-        pass
-
-
 def _check_config(
         cfg_file: str, default_configs: CamelCaseConfigParser, strict: bool):
     """
@@ -251,7 +229,6 @@ def load_config(
     _read_a_config(configs, cfg_file, default_configs, True)
 
     parsers = dict(config_parsers)
-    parsers["Logging"] = logging_parser
 
     for section in parsers:
         if configs.has_section(section):
diff --git a/spinn_utilities/config_holder.py b/spinn_utilities/config_holder.py
index 092993d8..b1d39dbf 100644
--- a/spinn_utilities/config_holder.py
+++ b/spinn_utilities/config_holder.py
@@ -13,13 +13,15 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 from collections import defaultdict
+from configparser import NoOptionError
 import logging
 import os
 from typing import Any, Callable, Collection, Dict, List, Optional, Set, Union
 import spinn_utilities.conf_loader as conf_loader
 from spinn_utilities.configs import CamelCaseConfigParser
 from spinn_utilities.exceptions import ConfigException
-from spinn_utilities.log import FormatAdapter
+from spinn_utilities.log import (
+    FormatAdapter, ConfiguredFilter, ConfiguredFormatter)
 
 # pylint: disable=global-statement
 logger = FormatAdapter(logging.getLogger(__file__))
@@ -84,6 +86,27 @@ def _pre_load_config() -> CamelCaseConfigParser:
     return load_config()
 
 
+def logging_parser(config: CamelCaseConfigParser):
+    """
+    Create the root logger with the given level.
+
+    Create filters based on logging levels
+    """
+    try:
+        if (has_config_option("Logging", "instantiate") and
+                get_config_bool("Logging", "instantiate")):
+            level = "INFO"
+            if has_config_option("Logging", "default"):
+                level = get_config_str("Logging", "default").upper()
+            logging.basicConfig(level=level)
+        for handler in logging.root.handlers:
+            handler.addFilter(
+                ConfiguredFilter(config))  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+            handler.setFormatter(ConfiguredFormatter(config))
+    except NoOptionError:
+        pass
+
+
 def load_config() -> CamelCaseConfigParser:
     """
     Reads in all the configuration files, resetting all values.
@@ -100,6 +123,8 @@ def load_config() -> CamelCaseConfigParser:
         __config = CamelCaseConfigParser()
         for default in __default_config_files:
             __config.read(default)
+
+    logging_parser(__config)
     return __config
 
 
diff --git a/spinn_utilities/log.py b/spinn_utilities/log.py
index 7658eb6b..26684ada 100644
--- a/spinn_utilities/log.py
+++ b/spinn_utilities/log.py
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ class ConfiguredFilter(object):
 
     def __init__(self, conf):
         self._levels = ConfiguredFormatter.construct_logging_parents(conf)
-        self._default_level = _LEVELS[conf.get("Logging", "default")]
+        self._default_level = logging.INFO
+        if conf.has_option("Logging", "default"):
+            self._default_level = _LEVELS[conf.get("Logging", "default")]
 
     def filter(self, record):
         """
@@ -63,7 +65,8 @@ class ConfiguredFormatter(logging.Formatter):
     __last_component = re.compile(r'\.[^.]+$')
 
     def __init__(self, conf):
-        if conf.get("Logging", "default") == "debug":
+        if (conf.has_option("Logging", "default") and
+                conf.get("Logging", "default") == "debug"):
             fmt = "%(asctime)-15s %(levelname)s: %(pathname)s: %(message)s"
         else:
             fmt = "%(asctime)-15s %(levelname)s: %(message)s"
diff --git a/spinn_utilities/spinn_utilities.cfg b/spinn_utilities/spinn_utilities.cfg
index fa892ea3..380ee6af 100644
--- a/spinn_utilities/spinn_utilities.cfg
+++ b/spinn_utilities/spinn_utilities.cfg
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 # Edit the cfg in your home directory to change your preferences
 # Add / Edit a cfg in the run directory for script specific changes
 
+[Logging]
+instantiate = True
+default = info
+
 [Machine]
 machine_spec_file = None
 
diff --git a/unittests/test_cfg_checker.py b/unittests/test_cfg_checker.py
index 78ed0f14..c33b0b9e 100644
--- a/unittests/test_cfg_checker.py
+++ b/unittests/test_cfg_checker.py
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ def setUp(self):
     def test_config_checks(self):
         spinn_utilities_dir = spinn_utilities.__path__[0]
         run_config_checks(directories=[spinn_utilities_dir],
-                          exceptions=["config_holder.py"])
+                          exceptions=[])
diff --git a/unittests/test_log.py b/unittests/test_log.py
index aad534f7..1b4bae1d 100644
--- a/unittests/test_log.py
+++ b/unittests/test_log.py
@@ -144,6 +144,9 @@ def get(self, section, option):
     def has_section(self, section):
         return False
 
+    def has_option(self, section, option):
+        return False
+
 
 def test_weird_config1():
     ConfiguredFormatter(MockConfig1())