diff --git a/scripts/qemu.py b/scripts/qemu.py
index 5e02dd8e78..73d6031e02 100644
--- a/scripts/qemu.py
+++ b/scripts/qemu.py
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ def __init__(self, binary, args=None, wrapper=None, name=None,
         self._qmp = None
         self._qemu_full_args = None
 
+        # just in case logging wasn't configured by the main script:
+        logging.basicConfig(level=(logging.DEBUG if debug else logging.WARN))
+
     def __enter__(self):
         return self