diff --git a/.codeclimate.yml b/.codeclimate.yml
index b4c9862..a04a7a6 100644
--- a/.codeclimate.yml
+++ b/.codeclimate.yml
@@ -1,17 +1,7 @@
-engines:
-  duplication:
-    enabled: true
-    config:
-      languages:
-        - javascript
-  fixme:
-    enabled: true
+version: 2
 
-ratings:
-  paths:
-    - lib/**
-    - test/**
-
-exclude_paths:
-  - example/**/*
-  - node_modules/**/*
+exclude_patterns:
+  - example/
+  - node_modules/
+  - test/
+  - "**/*.test.js"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c583664..4a9170f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -271,25 +271,37 @@ Worth mentioning, like all options this can be set in package.json under a
 }
 ```
 
-### Silent mode
+### Log output
 
-In case you don't want to the output to be cluttered by the script contents, you
-can run scripty in silent mode:
+Scripty is now quieter by default.
+The output can be configured to a level of `verbose`, `info`, `warn`, or `error`.
+Any logs equal to or higher than the setting are shown.
+All logs are printed to STDERR (to aid in redirection and piping).
 
 ```
-$ SCRIPTY_SILENT=true npm run publish:danger:stuff
+$ SCRIPTY_LOG_LEVEL=verbose npm run publish:danger:stuff
 ```
 
-This will omit printing the path and contents of each script the command executes.
+This will print the path and contents of each script the command executes.
 
-If you always want scripty to run your scripts silently, you can set it in
-your package.json under a `"scripty"` entry:
+If you always want scripty to run your scripts at a certain level,
+you can set it in your package.json under a `"scripty"` entry:
 
 ```json
 "scripty": {
-  "silent": true
+  "logLevel": "warn"
 }
 ```
+
+`SCRIPTY_SILENT` and `SCRIPTY_QUIET` are aliases for `SCRIPTY_LOG_LEVEL=silent`
+`SCRIPTY_VERBOSE` is an alias for `SCRIPTY_LOG_LEVEL=verbose`
+(also `"silent": true`, etc in package.json#scripty)
+
+`SCRIPTY_DRY_RUN=true` implies log level `info`
+
+Explicit setting from logLevel takes precedence; otherwise,
+conflicting values between silent/verbose/dryRun will respect the highest level.
+
 ## Likely questions
 
 * **Is this black magic?** - Nope! For once, instilling some convention didn't
diff --git a/cli.js b/cli.js
index b15a3c4..088d48f 100755
--- a/cli.js
+++ b/cli.js
@@ -4,10 +4,8 @@ var lifecycleEvent = process.env.npm_lifecycle_event
 
 if (!lifecycleEvent) {
   console.error(
-    'Error: scripty - it seems you may be running scripty from the ' +
-    'command-line directly.\n' +
-    'At this time, scripty can only be run within an ' +
-    'npm script specified in your package.json.\n\n' +
+    'scripty ERR! It seems you may be running scripty from the command-line directly.\n' +
+    'At this time, scripty can only be run within an npm script specified in your package.json.\n\n' +
     'Example package.json entry:\n\n' +
     '  "scripts": {\n' +
     '    "foo:bar": "scripty"\n' +
@@ -21,12 +19,16 @@ if (!lifecycleEvent) {
 } else {
   var scripty = require('./lib/scripty')
   var loadOption = require('./lib/load-option')
+  var log = require('./lib/log')
 
   scripty(lifecycleEvent, {
     userArgs: process.argv.slice(2),
     parallel: loadOption('parallel'),
     dryRun: loadOption('dryRun'),
+    logLevel: loadOption('logLevel'),
+    quiet: loadOption('quiet'),
     silent: loadOption('silent'),
+    verbose: loadOption('verbose'),
     spawn: {
       stdio: 'inherit'
     },
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ if (!lifecycleEvent) {
     }
   }, function (er, code) {
     if (er) {
-      console.error(er)
+      log.error(er)
       code = code || er.code || 1
     }
     process.exitCode = code
diff --git a/lib/derive-log-level.js b/lib/derive-log-level.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..81797ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/derive-log-level.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+var log = require('./log')
+
+module.exports = function deriveLogLevel (userOptions) {
+  if (!userOptions) return
+
+  if (userOptions.logLevel) return userOptions.logLevel
+
+  if (userOptions.verbose) return log.verbose
+
+  if (userOptions.dryRun) return log.info
+
+  if (userOptions.silent || userOptions.quiet) return log.silent
+}
diff --git a/lib/derive-log-level.test.js b/lib/derive-log-level.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e8055e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/derive-log-level.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+var subject = require('./derive-log-level')
+var log = require('./log')
+
+module.exports = {
+  'does not default': function () {
+    assert.equal(subject(), undefined)
+  },
+
+  'explicit logLevel takes precedence': function () {
+    assert.equal(subject({
+      silent: true,
+      dryRun: true,
+      verbose: true,
+      logLevel: 'warn' }), 'warn')
+  },
+
+  'passes through unrecognized values': function () {
+    assert.equal(subject({ logLevel: 'worn' }), 'worn')
+  },
+
+  'verbose preempts dry-run and silent': function () {
+    assert.equal(subject({ silent: true, dryRun: true, verbose: true }), log.verbose)
+  },
+
+  'dry-run preempts silent': function () {
+    assert.equal(subject({ silent: true, dryRun: true }), log.info)
+  },
+
+  'silent is read last': function () {
+    assert.equal(subject({ silent: true }), log.silent)
+  },
+
+  'quiet is alias for silent': function () {
+    assert.equal(subject({ quiet: true }), log.silent)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/log.js b/lib/log.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34b81f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/log.js
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+const util = require('util')
+
+const constant = val => () => val
+
+const formatError = args =>
+  args.map(arg => arg instanceof Error ? arg.message : arg)
+
+const loggerWithPrefix = (prefix, writer) => (...args) =>
+  writer()(prefix, util.format(...formatError(args))
+    .replace(/(\r?\n)(?=[\s\S]+)/g, `$1${prefix} `))
+
+const silentLogger = (...args) => {
+  output += util.format(...args) + '\n'
+}
+
+let level
+let output
+
+module.exports = {
+  get level () {
+    return level.toString()
+  },
+
+  set level (l) {
+    level = module.exports[String(l).toLowerCase()]
+  },
+
+  read: () => output,
+
+  reset: () => {
+    output = ''
+    module.exports.level = 'info'
+  }
+}
+
+;[
+  ['verbose', '>'],
+  ['info', '>'],
+  ['warn', 'WARN'],
+  ['error', 'ERR!'],
+  ['silent']
+].forEach(([name, prefix], index) => {
+  const logger = loggerWithPrefix(`scripty ${prefix}`, () =>
+    level <= logger ? console.error : silentLogger)
+
+  logger.valueOf = constant(index + 1)
+  logger.toString = constant(name)
+
+  module.exports[name] = logger
+})
+
+module.exports.reset()
diff --git a/lib/log.test.js b/lib/log.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0af4f7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/log.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+var subject = require('./log')
+
+module.exports = {
+  beforeEach: function () {
+    td.replace(console, 'error')
+    subject.reset()
+  },
+  writesToStderr: function () {
+    subject.info('foo')
+
+    td.verify(console.error('scripty >', 'foo'))
+  },
+  setTheLogLevel: {
+    verbose: function () {
+      subject.level = subject.verbose
+      subject.verbose('ity')
+      td.verify(console.error('scripty >', 'ity'))
+    },
+    info: function () {
+      subject.level = subject.info
+      td.when(console.error('ity')).thenThrow(new Error('Should not log verbose calls at INFO level'))
+      subject.verbose('ity')
+      subject.info('mation')
+      td.verify(console.error('scripty >', 'mation'))
+    },
+    warn: function () {
+      subject.level = subject.warn
+      td.when(console.error('mation')).thenThrow(new Error('Should not log info calls at WARN level'))
+      subject.info('mation')
+      subject.warn('ing')
+      td.verify(console.error('scripty WARN', 'ing'))
+    },
+    error: function () {
+      subject.level = subject.error
+      td.when(console.error('ing')).thenThrow(new Error('Should not log warn calls at ERROR level'))
+      subject.warn('ing')
+      subject.error('fail')
+      td.verify(console.error('scripty ERR!', 'fail'))
+    },
+    silent: function () {
+      subject.level = subject.silent
+      td.when(console.error('fail')).thenThrow(new Error('Should not log error calls at SILENT level'))
+      subject.error('fail')
+    }
+  },
+  modeSwitchCapturesLogs: function () {
+    subject.level = subject.silent
+
+    subject.info('bar')
+    subject.info('baz', 'noz')
+
+    td.verify(console.error(), { ignoreExtraArgs: true, times: 0 })
+    assert.equal(subject.read(), 'scripty > bar\nscripty > baz noz\n')
+  },
+  resetResetsMode: function () {
+    subject.level = subject.silent
+
+    subject.reset()
+
+    subject.info('biz')
+    td.verify(console.error('scripty >', 'biz'))
+  },
+  resetResetsLog: function () {
+    subject.level = subject.silent
+
+    subject.info('lalalal')
+
+    subject.reset()
+
+    assert.equal(subject.read(), '')
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/optionify.js b/lib/optionify.js
index efe9664..f4a3a91 100644
--- a/lib/optionify.js
+++ b/lib/optionify.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 var _ = require('lodash')
+var deriveLogLevel = require('./derive-log-level')
 
 var NULL_CB = function () {}
 module.exports = function (rawFunc, defaultOptions) {
@@ -9,6 +10,10 @@ module.exports = function (rawFunc, defaultOptions) {
     if (!cb) {
       cb = NULL_CB
     }
+
+    var logLevel = deriveLogLevel(userOptions)
+    if (logLevel) userOptions.logLevel = logLevel
+
     var fullOptions = _.defaultsDeep({}, userOptions, defaultOptions)
     return rawFunc(mainArg, fullOptions, cb)
   }
diff --git a/lib/resolve-script/find-executables.js b/lib/resolve-script/find-executables.js
index cd933d7..02082e0 100644
--- a/lib/resolve-script/find-executables.js
+++ b/lib/resolve-script/find-executables.js
@@ -1,28 +1,21 @@
 var _ = require('lodash')
-var globFirst = require('./glob-first')
-var path = require('path')
 var async = require('async')
+var fs = require('fs')
+var path = require('path')
+var globFirst = require('./glob-first')
+var log = require('../log')
 
-var isExecutable = require('./is-executable')
-
-module.exports = function (patterns, cb) {
-  globFirst(patterns, function (er, results) {
+module.exports = (patterns, cb) =>
+  globFirst(patterns, (er, results) => {
     if (er) return cb(er)
-    async.map(results, function (result, cb) {
-      isExecutable(result, function (er, itIsExecutable) {
-        if (itIsExecutable) {
-          cb(er, path.resolve(result))
-        } else {
-          console.warn(
-            'Warning: scripty - ignoring script "' + result + '" because it' +
-            ' was not executable. Run `chmod +x "' + result + '" if you want' +
-            ' scripty to run it.'
-          )
-          cb(er, undefined)
-        }
-      })
-    }, function (er, results) {
-      cb(er, _.compact(results))
-    })
+
+    async.map(results,
+      (result, cb) => fs.access(result, fs.constants.R_OK | fs.constants.X_OK,
+        er => cb(null, er
+          ? log.warn(`Ignoring script '${result}' because it was not readable/executable.\n` +
+            `Run \`chmod u+rx '${result}'\` if you want scripty to run it.`)
+          : path.resolve(result))
+      ),
+      (er, results) => cb(er, _.compact(results))
+    )
   })
-}
diff --git a/lib/resolve-script/find-executables.test.js b/lib/resolve-script/find-executables.test.js
index cdf8f2f..5798604 100644
--- a/lib/resolve-script/find-executables.test.js
+++ b/lib/resolve-script/find-executables.test.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var _ = require('lodash')
 var path = require('path')
+var log = require('../log')
 
 var base = function (glob) {
   return path.resolve('test/fixtures/unit/find-executables', glob)
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@ var subject = require('./find-executables')
 
 module.exports = {
   beforeEach: function () {
-    td.replace(console, 'warn')
+    log.level = 'silent'
   },
   noFilesFound: function (done) {
     subject([base('does-not-exist*')], function (er, result) {
@@ -26,11 +27,10 @@ module.exports = {
     if (process.platform === 'win32') return done()
     subject([base('file.*')], function (er, result) {
       assert.deepEqual(result, [base('file.executable')])
-      td.verify(console.warn(
-        'Warning: scripty - ignoring script "' + base('file.not.executable') +
-        '" because it was not executable. Run `chmod +x "' +
-        base('file.not.executable') + '" if you want scripty to run it.'
-      ))
+      assert.includes(log.read(),
+        `scripty WARN Ignoring script '${base('file.not.executable')}' because it was not readable/executable.\n` +
+        `scripty WARN Run \`chmod u+rx '${base('file.not.executable')}'\` if you want scripty to run it.`
+      )
       done(er)
     })
   },
diff --git a/lib/resolve-script/index.js b/lib/resolve-script/index.js
index 4aad760..7178374 100644
--- a/lib/resolve-script/index.js
+++ b/lib/resolve-script/index.js
@@ -14,11 +14,10 @@ module.exports = function (name, options, cb) {
         if (ourPaths.length > 0) {
           cb(er, ourPaths)
         } else {
-          cb(new Error(
-            'Error: scripty - no script found for npm lifecycle "' + name + '"' +
-            ' matching either "' + userGlob + '" or "' + ourGlob + '". Either' +
-            ' define a script or remove "scripty" from "' + name + '" under' +
-            ' "scripts" in your package.json.'
+          cb(new Error(`No script found for npm lifecycle '${name}' matching any of:\n` +
+            `  ${String(userGlob).replace(/,/g, '\n  ')}\n` +
+            `  ${String(ourGlob).replace(/,/g, '\n  ')}\n` +
+            `Either define a script or remove "scripty" from 'scripts.${name}' in your package.json.`
           ), null)
         }
       })
diff --git a/lib/resolve-script/index.test.js b/lib/resolve-script/index.test.js
index 12e8453..4075310 100644
--- a/lib/resolve-script/index.test.js
+++ b/lib/resolve-script/index.test.js
@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@ module.exports = {
 
     this.subject('fake', OPTIONS, function (er, result) {
       assert.equal(er.message,
-        'Error: scripty - no script found for npm lifecycle "fake" matching ' +
-        'either "glob1" or "glob2". Either define a script or remove ' +
-        '"scripty" from "fake" under "scripts" in your package.json.'
-      )
+        `No script found for npm lifecycle 'fake' matching any of:\n` +
+        `  glob1\n  glob2\n` +
+        `Either define a script or remove "scripty" from 'scripts.fake' in your package.json.`)
       assert.equal(result, null)
       done(null)
     })
diff --git a/lib/resolve-script/is-executable.js b/lib/resolve-script/is-executable.js
deleted file mode 100644
index f06d93b..0000000
--- a/lib/resolve-script/is-executable.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-var fs = require('fs')
-
-module.exports = function (path, cb) {
-  if (process.platform === 'win32') return cb(null, true)
-  fs.stat(path, function (er, stats) {
-    if (er) return cb(er)
-    var mode = stats.mode
-
-    var owner = mode >> 6
-    var group = (mode << 3) >> 6
-    var others = (mode << 6) >> 6
-
-    cb(er, !!(owner & 1) || !!(group & 1) || !!(others & 1))
-  })
-}
diff --git a/lib/resolve-script/is-executable.test.js b/lib/resolve-script/is-executable.test.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 05f3467..0000000
--- a/lib/resolve-script/is-executable.test.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-var path = require('path')
-var fs = require('fs')
-
-var root = path.resolve('test/fixtures/user-scripts/stats')
-var subject = require('./is-executable')
-module.exports = {
-  allXIsX: function (done) {
-    fs.chmodSync(root + '/all-x', '755')
-    subject(root + '/all-x', function (er, answer) {
-      assert.equal(answer, true)
-      done(er)
-    })
-  },
-  userXIsX: function (done) {
-    fs.chmodSync(root + '/owner-x', '744')
-    subject(root + '/owner-x', function (er, answer) {
-      assert.equal(answer, true)
-      done(er)
-    })
-  },
-  groupXIsX: function (done) {
-    fs.chmodSync(root + '/group-x', '654')
-    subject(root + '/group-x', function (er, answer) {
-      assert.equal(answer, true)
-      done(er)
-    })
-  },
-  othersXIsX: function (done) {
-    fs.chmodSync(root + '/other-x', '645')
-    subject(root + '/other-x', function (er, answer) {
-      assert.equal(answer, true)
-      done(er)
-    })
-  },
-  noXIsNotX: function (done) {
-    if (process.platform === 'win32') return done()
-    fs.chmodSync(root + '/no-x', '644')
-    subject(root + '/no-x', function (er, answer) {
-      assert.equal(answer, false)
-      done(er)
-    })
-  },
-  anyWindowsIsAllX: function (done) {
-    if (process.platform !== 'win32') return done()
-    subject(root + '/silly-lololo', function (er, answer) {
-      assert.equal(answer, true)
-      done(er)
-    })
-  }
-}
diff --git a/lib/run/commandify.js b/lib/run/commandify.js
deleted file mode 100644
index c93932e..0000000
--- a/lib/run/commandify.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-var _ = require('lodash')
-
-module.exports = function (func, items, options) {
-  return _.map(items, function (item) {
-    return function (cb) {
-      func(item, options, cb)
-    }
-  })
-}
diff --git a/lib/run/dry-run.js b/lib/run/dry-run.js
index cad38f6..13b857e 100644
--- a/lib/run/dry-run.js
+++ b/lib/run/dry-run.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 var _ = require('lodash')
 
 var printScript = require('./print-script')
-var log = require('./log')
+var log = require('../log')
 
 module.exports = function (scriptFiles, cb) {
-  log('This is a dry run. Executed scripts would be:\n')
+  log.info('This is a dry run. Executed scripts would be:')
   _.map(scriptFiles, printScript)
   cb(null, 0)
 }
diff --git a/lib/run/index.js b/lib/run/index.js
index 4839ff3..9309261 100644
--- a/lib/run/index.js
+++ b/lib/run/index.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 var _ = require('lodash')
 
+const commandify = (func, items, options) =>
+  items.map(item => cb => func(item, options, cb))
 var dryRun = require('./dry-run')
-var commandify = require('./commandify')
 var spawnScript = require('./spawn-script')
 var all = require('./all')
 
diff --git a/lib/run/log.js b/lib/run/log.js
deleted file mode 100644
index b015338..0000000
--- a/lib/run/log.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-var _ = require('lodash')
-
-var isSilent = false
-var output = ''
-
-module.exports = function () {
-  if (!isSilent) {
-    if (_.startsWith(arguments[0], 'Error:')) {
-      console.error.apply(this, arguments)
-    } else {
-      console.log.apply(this, arguments)
-    }
-  } else {
-    output += _.toArray(arguments).join(' ') + '\n'
-  }
-}
-
-module.exports.shush = function () {
-  isSilent = true
-}
-
-module.exports.read = function () {
-  return output
-}
-
-module.exports.reset = function () {
-  isSilent = false
-  output = ''
-}
diff --git a/lib/run/log.test.js b/lib/run/log.test.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 3158324..0000000
--- a/lib/run/log.test.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
-var subject = require('./log')
-
-module.exports = {
-  beforeEach: function () {
-    td.replace(console, 'log')
-    td.replace(console, 'error')
-    subject.reset()
-  },
-  normallyJustLogs: function () {
-    subject('foo')
-
-    td.verify(console.log('foo'))
-  },
-  consoleErrorsWhenStartingWithError: function () {
-    subject('Error: foo')
-
-    td.verify(console.error('Error: foo'))
-  },
-  modeSwitchCapturesLogs: function () {
-    subject.shush()
-
-    subject('bar')
-    subject('baz', 'noz')
-
-    td.verify(console.log(), { ignoreExtraArgs: true, times: 0 })
-    assert.equal(subject.read(), 'bar\nbaz noz\n')
-  },
-  resetResetsMode: function () {
-    subject.shush()
-
-    subject.reset()
-
-    subject('biz')
-    td.verify(console.log('biz'))
-  },
-  resetResetsLog: function () {
-    subject.shush()
-    subject('lalalal')
-
-    subject.reset()
-
-    assert.equal(subject.read(), '')
-  }
-
-}
diff --git a/lib/run/print-script.js b/lib/run/print-script.js
index bc9b719..845ce40 100644
--- a/lib/run/print-script.js
+++ b/lib/run/print-script.js
@@ -1,25 +1,15 @@
 var fs = require('fs')
-var _ = require('lodash')
-
-var log = require('./log')
+var log = require('../log')
 
 module.exports = function (scriptFile) {
-  log('Executing "' + scriptFile + '":\n')
-  var script = read(scriptFile)
-  if (script) {
-    log(_.map(script.split('\n'), function (line) {
-      return '> ' + line
-    }).join('\n') + '\n\n')
-  }
+  log.info(`Executing "${scriptFile}":\n`)
+  log.verbose(`${read(scriptFile)}`)
 }
 
 function read (scriptFile) {
   try {
     return fs.readFileSync(scriptFile).toString()
   } catch (e) {
-    log(
-      'Error: scripty - failed trying to read "' + scriptFile + '":\n\n' +
-      e.message
-    )
+    log.warn(`Failed to read '${scriptFile}':\n${e.message}`)
   }
 }
diff --git a/lib/run/print-script.test.js b/lib/run/print-script.test.js
index b5539db..37c4271 100644
--- a/lib/run/print-script.test.js
+++ b/lib/run/print-script.test.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 var path = require('path')
 
-var log = require('./log')
+var log = require('../log')
 
 module.exports = {
   beforeEach: function () {
-    log.shush()
+    log.level = 'silent'
     this.subject = require('./print-script')
   },
   happyPath: function () {
@@ -12,16 +12,16 @@ module.exports = {
 
     this.subject(script)
 
-    assert.includes(log.read(), 'Executing "' + script + '":\n')
-    assert.includes(log.read(), '> #!/usr/bin/env sh')
-    assert.includes(log.read(), '> npm test -- --debug-brk')
+    assert.includes(log.read(), 'scripty > Executing "' + script + '":\n')
+    assert.includes(log.read(), 'scripty > #!/usr/bin/env sh')
+    assert.includes(log.read(), 'scripty > npm test -- --debug-brk')
   },
   sadPath: function () {
     var script = '/silly/nonsense'
 
     this.subject(script)
 
-    assert.includes(log.read(), 'Error: scripty - failed trying to read "/silly/nonsense":')
-    assert.includes(log.read(), 'ENOENT')
+    assert.includes(log.read(), `scripty WARN Failed to read '/silly/nonsense':`)
+    assert.includes(log.read(), `scripty WARN ENOENT`)
   }
 }
diff --git a/lib/run/spawn-script.js b/lib/run/spawn-script.js
index 0f0d926..b05fcb8 100644
--- a/lib/run/spawn-script.js
+++ b/lib/run/spawn-script.js
@@ -3,18 +3,14 @@ var printScript = require('./print-script')
 var spawn = require('child_process').spawn
 
 module.exports = function (scriptFile, options, cb) {
-  if (!options.silent) printScript(scriptFile)
-  var userArgs = options.userArgs
-  var child = spawn(scriptFile, userArgs, options.spawn)
-  child.on('close', function (code) {
-    if (code !== 0) {
-      cb(new Error(
-        'Error: scripty - script "fail" failed by exiting ' +
-        'with a non-zero code (' + code + ').'
-      ), code)
-    } else {
-      cb(null, code)
-    }
-  })
+  printScript(scriptFile)
+
+  const child = spawn(scriptFile, options.userArgs, options.spawn)
+
+  child.on('close', code => cb(code !== 0
+    ? new Error(`script failed: '${scriptFile}'\nexit status: ${code}`)
+    : null, code)
+  )
+
   _.invoke(options, 'spawn.tap', child)
 }
diff --git a/lib/scripty.js b/lib/scripty.js
index c8cd0a7..5b77dff 100644
--- a/lib/scripty.js
+++ b/lib/scripty.js
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 var optionify = require('./optionify')
 var resolveScript = require('./resolve-script')
 var run = require('./run')
+var log = require('./log')
 
 module.exports = optionify(function scripty (npmLifecycle, options, cb) {
+  log.level = options.logLevel
+
   resolveScript(npmLifecycle, options.resolve, function (er, scriptFiles) {
     if (er) return cb(er)
     run(scriptFiles, options, cb)
@@ -11,7 +14,7 @@ module.exports = optionify(function scripty (npmLifecycle, options, cb) {
   userArgs: [],
   parallel: false,
   dryRun: false,
-  silent: false,
+  logLevel: 'info',
   spawn: {},
   resolve: {}
 })
diff --git a/test/run-scripty.js b/test/run-scripty.js
index 5ae977b..172c97a 100644
--- a/test/run-scripty.js
+++ b/test/run-scripty.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ module.exports = function (name, opts, cb) {
   var stdio = {}
 
   scripty(name, _.defaultsDeep({}, opts, {
+    logLevel: 'silent',
     resolve: {
       builtIn: path.resolve('test/fixtures/built-in-scripts'),
       builtInWin: path.resolve('test/fixtures/built-in-scripts-win'),
diff --git a/test/safe-helper.js b/test/safe-helper.js
index 13788dc..0b05e90 100644
--- a/test/safe-helper.js
+++ b/test/safe-helper.js
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 var decorateAssertions = require('./decorate-assertions')
 global.assert = decorateAssertions(require('assert'))
 
-var log = require('../lib/run/log')
+var log = require('../lib/log')
 
 module.exports = {
-  beforeEach: function () {
-    log.shush()
-  },
   afterEach: function () {
     log.reset()
   }
diff --git a/test/safe/basic-test.js b/test/safe/basic-test.js
index 5265416..d275247 100644
--- a/test/safe/basic-test.js
+++ b/test/safe/basic-test.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var runScripty = require('../run-scripty')
-var log = require('../../lib/run/log')
+var log = require('../../lib/log')
+const path = require('path')
 
 module.exports = {
   outputAndRunScript: function (done) {
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ module.exports = {
     runScripty('not:a:real:thing', {}, function (er, code, stdio) {
       assert.notEqual(0, code)
       assert.includes(er.message,
-        'Error: scripty - no script found for npm lifecycle "not:a:real:thing"'
+        `No script found for npm lifecycle 'not:a:real:thing'`
       )
 
       done(null)
@@ -28,10 +29,7 @@ module.exports = {
   scriptFoundButFailed: function (done) {
     runScripty('fail', {}, function (er, code, stdio) {
       assert.notEqual(0, code)
-      assert.includes(er.message,
-        'Error: scripty - script "fail" failed by exiting ' +
-        'with a non-zero code (' + code + ').'
-      )
+      assert.includes(er.message, `script failed: '${path.resolve('test/fixtures/user-scripts/fail')}'\nexit status: ${code}`)
       if (process.platform === 'win32') {
         assert.includes(stdio.stderr, 'The system cannot find the path specified.')
       } else {
diff --git a/test/safe/dry-run-test.js b/test/safe/dry-run-test.js
index 78fcd50..d8de07a 100644
--- a/test/safe/dry-run-test.js
+++ b/test/safe/dry-run-test.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 var runScripty = require('../run-scripty')
-var log = require('../../lib/run/log')
+var log = require('../../lib/log')
 
 module.exports = function doesNotRunButPrintResolvedScripts (done) {
   runScripty('hello:world', { dryRun: true }, function (er, code, stdio) {
diff --git a/test/safe/silent-test.js b/test/safe/silent-test.js
index 31d3078..dd3b8ce 100644
--- a/test/safe/silent-test.js
+++ b/test/safe/silent-test.js
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 var runScripty = require('../run-scripty')
-var log = require('../../lib/run/log')
 
 module.exports = function doesNotEchoScriptContentInSilentMode (done) {
-  runScripty('hello:world', { silent: true }, function (er, code, stdio) {
-    assert.equal(log.read(), '')
+  var oldConsole = global.console
+  global.console = {} // blow up if a console method is invoked
+
+  runScripty('hello:world', { logLevel: 'silent' }, function (er, code, stdio) {
+    global.console = oldConsole
     done(er)
   })
 }
diff --git a/test/unit-helper.js b/test/unit-helper.js
index 47bc35b..c695b96 100644
--- a/test/unit-helper.js
+++ b/test/unit-helper.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ global.td = require('testdouble')
 var decorateAssertions = require('./decorate-assertions')
 global.assert = decorateAssertions(require('assert'))
 
-var log = require('../lib/run/log')
+var log = require('../lib/log')
 
 global.UNSUPPORTED_TDD = require('./is-old-node')
 if (UNSUPPORTED_TDD) {