diff --git a/ipykernel/kernelspec.py b/ipykernel/kernelspec.py
index deda6ebec..18d958ba9 100644
--- a/ipykernel/kernelspec.py
+++ b/ipykernel/kernelspec.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def make_ipkernel_cmd(mod='ipykernel_launcher', executable=None, extra_arguments
     if executable is None:
         executable = sys.executable
     extra_arguments = extra_arguments or []
-    arguments = [executable, '-m', mod, '-f', '{connection_file}']
+    arguments = [executable, '-m', mod, '-f', '{connection_file}', '--log-level', 'DEBUG']
     arguments.extend(extra_arguments)
 
     return arguments