diff --git a/distutils/_log.py b/distutils/_log.py
index 129cb18a..4a2ae0ac 100644
--- a/distutils/_log.py
+++ b/distutils/_log.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 import logging
 
 
-log = logging.getLogger('distutils')
+log = logging.getLogger()
diff --git a/distutils/dist.py b/distutils/dist.py
index f6dd50a0..d7458a05 100644
--- a/distutils/dist.py
+++ b/distutils/dist.py
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ def parse_command_line(self):
         parser.set_aliases({'licence': 'license'})
         args = parser.getopt(args=self.script_args, object=self)
         option_order = parser.get_option_order()
-        log.setLevel(logging.WARN - 10 * self.verbose)
+        logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging.WARN - 10 * self.verbose)
 
         # for display options we return immediately
         if self.handle_display_options(option_order):