diff --git a/src/logging.c b/src/logging.c
index f64fd3c..eab8bdf 100644
--- a/src/logging.c
+++ b/src/logging.c
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@
 /*! \brief convert a numeric log level into human-readable string */
 const char *log_level_str(unsigned int lvl)
 {
+	/* backwards compatibility */
+	if (lvl == 0)
+		return loglevel_strs[0].str;
 	return get_value_string(loglevel_strs, lvl);
 }