diff --git a/openbsc/src/gprs/gb_proxy_main.c b/openbsc/src/gprs/gb_proxy_main.c
index 9ef9098..028f989 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gprs/gb_proxy_main.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gprs/gb_proxy_main.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <netinet/in.h>
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/talloc.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/select.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/rate_ctr.h>
@@ -64,7 +65,6 @@
 	"This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.\r\n"
 	"There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.\r\n";
 
-static struct log_target *stderr_target;
 static char *config_file = "osmo_gbproxy.cfg";
 struct gbproxy_config gbcfg;
 static int daemonize = 0;
@@ -162,10 +162,10 @@
 			print_help();
 			exit(0);
 		case 's':
-			log_set_use_color(stderr_target, 0);
+			log_set_use_color(osmo_stderr_target, 0);
 			break;
 		case 'd':
-			log_parse_category_mask(stderr_target, optarg);
+			log_parse_category_mask(osmo_stderr_target, optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'D':
 			daemonize = 1;
@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@
 			config_file = strdup(optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'T':
-			log_set_print_timestamp(stderr_target, 1);
+			log_set_print_timestamp(osmo_stderr_target, 1);
 			break;
 		case 'e':
-			log_set_log_level(stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
+			log_set_log_level(osmo_stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
 			break;
 		case 'V':
 			print_version(1);
@@ -212,12 +212,9 @@
 	signal(SIGABRT, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR1, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR2, &signal_handler);
-	signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_IGN);
+	osmo_init_ignore_signals();
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 
 	vty_info.copyright = openbsc_copyright;
 	vty_init(&vty_info);
diff --git a/openbsc/src/gprs/sgsn_main.c b/openbsc/src/gprs/sgsn_main.c
index 5fdc5b7..bfa2e52 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gprs/sgsn_main.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gprs/sgsn_main.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <netinet/in.h>
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/talloc.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/select.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/rate_ctr.h>
@@ -62,7 +63,6 @@
 void *tall_bsc_ctx;
 
 struct gprs_ns_inst *sgsn_nsi;
-static struct log_target *stderr_target;
 static int daemonize = 0;
 const char *openbsc_copyright =
 	"Copyright (C) 2010 Harald Welte and On-Waves\r\n"
@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@
 			print_help();
 			exit(0);
 		case 's':
-			log_set_use_color(stderr_target, 0);
+			log_set_use_color(osmo_stderr_target, 0);
 			break;
 		case 'd':
-			log_parse_category_mask(stderr_target, optarg);
+			log_parse_category_mask(osmo_stderr_target, optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'D':
 			daemonize = 1;
@@ -186,10 +186,10 @@
 			sgsn_inst.config_file = strdup(optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'T':
-			log_set_print_timestamp(stderr_target, 1);
+			log_set_print_timestamp(osmo_stderr_target, 1);
 			break;
 		case 'e':
-			log_set_log_level(stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
+			log_set_log_level(osmo_stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
 			break;
 		default:
 			/* ignore */
@@ -211,12 +211,9 @@
 	signal(SIGABRT, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR1, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR2, &signal_handler);
-	signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_IGN);
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
+	osmo_init_ignore_signals();
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 
 	vty_info.copyright = openbsc_copyright;
 	vty_init(&vty_info);
diff --git a/openbsc/src/ipaccess/ipaccess-config.c b/openbsc/src/ipaccess/ipaccess-config.c
index af0ea00..9d0e2db 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/ipaccess/ipaccess-config.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/ipaccess/ipaccess-config.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 
 
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/select.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/timer.h>
 #include <openbsc/ipaccess.h>
@@ -761,14 +762,9 @@
 	struct gsm_bts *bts;
 	struct sockaddr_in sin;
 	int rc, option_index = 0, stream_id = 0xff;
-	struct log_target *stderr_target;
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
-	log_set_log_level(stderr_target, 0);
-	log_parse_category_mask(stderr_target, "DNM,0");
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
+	log_parse_category_mask(osmo_stderr_target, "DNM,0");
 	bts_model_nanobts_init();
 
 	printf("ipaccess-config (C) 2009-2010 by Harald Welte and others\n");
@@ -871,7 +867,7 @@
 			dump_files = 1;
 			break;
 		case 'c':
-			log_set_use_color(stderr_target, 0);
+			log_set_use_color(osmo_stderr_target, 0);
 			break;
 		case 'p':
 			loop_tests = 1;
diff --git a/openbsc/src/ipaccess/ipaccess-proxy.c b/openbsc/src/ipaccess/ipaccess-proxy.c
index bbd5e32..b4d17e2 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/ipaccess/ipaccess-proxy.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/ipaccess/ipaccess-proxy.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include <getopt.h>
 
 #include <openbsc/gsm_data.h>
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/select.h>
 #include <osmocom/gsm/tlv.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/msgb.h>
@@ -46,8 +47,6 @@
 #include <openbsc/socket.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/talloc.h>
 
-static struct log_target *stderr_target;
-
 /* one instance of an ip.access protocol proxy */
 struct ipa_proxy {
 	/* socket where we listen for incoming OML from BTS */
@@ -1143,13 +1142,13 @@
 			gprs_ns_ipaddr = optarg;
 			break;
 		case 's':
-			log_set_use_color(stderr_target, 0);
+			log_set_use_color(osmo_stderr_target, 0);
 			break;
 		case 'T':
-			log_set_print_timestamp(stderr_target, 1);
+			log_set_print_timestamp(osmo_stderr_target, 1);
 			break;
 		case 'e':
-			log_set_log_level(stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
+			log_set_log_level(osmo_stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
 			break;
 		case '?':
 			if (optopt) {
@@ -1184,11 +1183,8 @@
 
 	tall_bsc_ctx = talloc_named_const(NULL, 1, "ipaccess-proxy");
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
-	log_parse_category_mask(stderr_target, "DINP:DMI");
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
+	log_parse_category_mask(osmo_stderr_target, "DINP:DMI");
 
 	handle_options(argc, argv);
 
@@ -1198,6 +1194,7 @@
 
 	signal(SIGUSR1, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGABRT, &signal_handler);
+	osmo_init_ignore_signals();
 
 	while (1) {
 		osmo_select_main(0);
diff --git a/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc/osmo_bsc_main.c b/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc/osmo_bsc_main.c
index 78a0ccb..16495d8 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc/osmo_bsc_main.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc/osmo_bsc_main.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <openbsc/signal.h>
 #include <openbsc/vty.h>
 
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/talloc.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/process.h>
 
@@ -43,7 +44,6 @@
 
 #include "../../bscconfig.h"
 
-static struct log_target *stderr_target;
 struct gsm_network *bsc_gsmnet = 0;
 static const char *config_file = "openbsc.cfg";
 static const char *rf_ctl = NULL;
@@ -101,10 +101,10 @@
 			print_help();
 			exit(0);
 		case 's':
-			log_set_use_color(stderr_target, 0);
+			log_set_use_color(osmo_stderr_target, 0);
 			break;
 		case 'd':
-			log_parse_category_mask(stderr_target, optarg);
+			log_parse_category_mask(osmo_stderr_target, optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'D':
 			daemonize = 1;
@@ -113,10 +113,10 @@
 			config_file = strdup(optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'T':
-			log_set_print_timestamp(stderr_target, 1);
+			log_set_print_timestamp(osmo_stderr_target, 1);
 			break;
 		case 'e':
-			log_set_log_level(stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
+			log_set_log_level(osmo_stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
 			break;
 		case 'r':
 			rf_ctl = optarg;
@@ -179,17 +179,15 @@
 	struct osmo_msc_data *data;
 	int rc;
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
 	tall_bsc_ctx = talloc_named_const(NULL, 1, "openbsc");
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
+
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 
 	bts_model_unknown_init();
 	bts_model_bs11_init();
 	bts_model_nanobts_init();
 
 	/* enable filters */
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
 
 	/* This needs to precede handle_options() */
 	vty_info.copyright = openbsc_copyright;
@@ -245,7 +243,7 @@
 	signal(SIGABRT, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR1, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR2, &signal_handler);
-	signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_IGN);
+	osmo_init_ignore_signals();
 
 	if (daemonize) {
 		rc = osmo_daemonize();
diff --git a/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_mgcp/mgcp_main.c b/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_mgcp/mgcp_main.c
index 8cb90c5..921fa09 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_mgcp/mgcp_main.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_mgcp/mgcp_main.c
@@ -32,16 +32,19 @@
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 
 #include <openbsc/debug.h>
+#include <openbsc/gsm_data.h>
+#include <openbsc/mgcp.h>
+#include <openbsc/mgcp_internal.h>
+#include <openbsc/vty.h>
+
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/msgb.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/talloc.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/process.h>
-#include <openbsc/gsm_data.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/select.h>
-#include <openbsc/mgcp.h>
-#include <openbsc/mgcp_internal.h>
+
 #include <osmocom/vty/telnet_interface.h>
 #include <osmocom/vty/logging.h>
-#include <openbsc/vty.h>
 
 #include <osmocom/vty/command.h>
 
@@ -193,14 +196,11 @@
 	struct gsm_network dummy_network;
 	struct sockaddr_in addr;
 	int on = 1, rc;
-	struct log_target *stderr_target;
 
 	tall_bsc_ctx = talloc_named_const(NULL, 1, "mgcp-callagent");
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
+	osmo_init_ignore_signals();
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 
 	cfg = mgcp_config_alloc();
 	if (!cfg)
diff --git a/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_nat/bsc_nat.c b/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_nat/bsc_nat.c
index d97416f..8649f43 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_nat/bsc_nat.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/osmo-bsc_nat/bsc_nat.c
@@ -44,10 +44,11 @@
 #include <openbsc/socket.h>
 #include <openbsc/vty.h>
 
-#include <osmocom/gsm/gsm0808.h>
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/talloc.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/process.h>
 
+#include <osmocom/gsm/gsm0808.h>
 #include <osmocom/gsm/protocol/gsm_08_08.h>
 
 #include <osmocom/vty/telnet_interface.h>
@@ -61,7 +62,6 @@
 #define SCCP_CLOSE_TIME 20
 #define SCCP_CLOSE_TIME_TIMEOUT 19
 
-struct log_target *stderr_target;
 static const char *config_file = "bsc-nat.cfg";
 static struct in_addr local_addr;
 static struct osmo_fd bsc_listen;
@@ -1322,16 +1322,16 @@
 			print_help();
 			exit(0);
 		case 's':
-			log_set_use_color(stderr_target, 0);
+			log_set_use_color(osmo_stderr_target, 0);
 			break;
 		case 'd':
-			log_parse_category_mask(stderr_target, optarg);
+			log_parse_category_mask(osmo_stderr_target, optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'c':
 			config_file = strdup(optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'T':
-			log_set_print_timestamp(stderr_target, 1);
+			log_set_print_timestamp(osmo_stderr_target, 1);
 			break;
 		case 'm':
 			msc_ip = optarg;
@@ -1418,10 +1418,7 @@
 
 	talloc_init_ctx();
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 
 	nat = bsc_nat_alloc();
 	if (!nat) {
@@ -1497,7 +1494,7 @@
 
 	signal(SIGABRT, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR1, &signal_handler);
-	signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_IGN);
+	osmo_init_ignore_signals();
 
 	if (daemonize) {
 		rc = osmo_daemonize();
diff --git a/openbsc/src/osmo-nitb/bsc_hack.c b/openbsc/src/osmo-nitb/bsc_hack.c
index 5e60441..1fa039b 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/osmo-nitb/bsc_hack.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/osmo-nitb/bsc_hack.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include <getopt.h>
 
 #include <openbsc/db.h>
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/select.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/process.h>
 #include <openbsc/debug.h>
@@ -43,7 +44,6 @@
 #include "../../bscconfig.h"
 
 /* MCC and MNC for the Location Area Identifier */
-static struct log_target *stderr_target;
 struct gsm_network *bsc_gsmnet = 0;
 static const char *database_name = "hlr.sqlite3";
 static const char *config_file = "openbsc.cfg";
@@ -127,10 +127,10 @@
 			print_help();
 			exit(0);
 		case 's':
-			log_set_use_color(stderr_target, 0);
+			log_set_use_color(osmo_stderr_target, 0);
 			break;
 		case 'd':
-			log_parse_category_mask(stderr_target, optarg);
+			log_parse_category_mask(osmo_stderr_target, optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'D':
 			daemonize = 1;
@@ -145,13 +145,13 @@
 			create_pcap_file(optarg);
 			break;
 		case 'T':
-			log_set_print_timestamp(stderr_target, 1);
+			log_set_print_timestamp(osmo_stderr_target, 1);
 			break;
 		case 'P':
 			ipacc_rtp_direct = 0;
 			break;
 		case 'e':
-			log_set_log_level(stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
+			log_set_log_level(osmo_stderr_target, atoi(optarg));
 			break;
 		case 'm':
 			use_mncc_sock = 1;
@@ -229,14 +229,13 @@
 
 	vty_info.copyright = openbsc_copyright;
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
 	tall_bsc_ctx = talloc_named_const(NULL, 1, "openbsc");
 	talloc_ctx_init();
 	on_dso_load_token();
 	on_dso_load_rrlp();
 	on_dso_load_ho_dec();
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
+
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 
 	bts_model_unknown_init();
 	bts_model_bs11_init();
@@ -246,9 +245,6 @@
 
 	e1inp_init();
 
-	/* enable filters */
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
-
 	/* This needs to precede handle_options() */
 	vty_init(&vty_info);
 	bsc_vty_init(&log_info);
@@ -291,7 +287,7 @@
 	signal(SIGABRT, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR1, &signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGUSR2, &signal_handler);
-	signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_IGN);
+	osmo_init_ignore_signals();
 
 	/* start the SMS queue */
 	if (sms_queue_start(bsc_gsmnet, 20) != 0)
diff --git a/openbsc/src/utils/bs11_config.c b/openbsc/src/utils/bs11_config.c
index 878d02a..aa8c55d 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/utils/bs11_config.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/utils/bs11_config.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include <openbsc/debug.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/select.h>
 #include <openbsc/rs232.h>
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 
 /* state of our bs11_config application */
 enum bs11cfg_state {
@@ -69,8 +70,6 @@
 
 static const uint8_t too_fast[] = { 0x12, 0x80, 0x00, 0x00, 0x02, 0x02 };
 
-static struct log_target *stderr_target;
-
 /* dummy function to keep gsm_data.c happy */
 struct osmo_counter *osmo_counter_alloc(const char *name)
 {
@@ -817,7 +816,7 @@
 			serial_port = optarg;
 			break;
 		case 'b':
-			log_parse_category_mask(stderr_target, optarg);
+			log_parse_category_mask(osmo_stderr_target, optarg);
 			break;
 		case 's':
 			fname_software = optarg;
@@ -874,10 +873,7 @@
 	struct gsm_network *gsmnet;
 	int rc;
 
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 	handle_options(argc, argv);
 	bts_model_bs11_init();
 
diff --git a/openbsc/tests/bsc-nat/bsc_nat_test.c b/openbsc/tests/bsc-nat/bsc_nat_test.c
index 6ec22c5..1645f70 100644
--- a/openbsc/tests/bsc-nat/bsc_nat_test.c
+++ b/openbsc/tests/bsc-nat/bsc_nat_test.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <openbsc/bsc_nat.h>
 #include <openbsc/bsc_nat_sccp.h>
 
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/talloc.h>
 
 #include <osmocom/sccp/sccp.h>
@@ -979,13 +980,8 @@
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	struct log_target *stderr_target;
-
 	sccp_set_log_area(DSCCP);
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 
 	test_filter();
 	test_contrack();
diff --git a/openbsc/tests/mgcp/mgcp_test.c b/openbsc/tests/mgcp/mgcp_test.c
index e2ed4e2..b7273de 100644
--- a/openbsc/tests/mgcp/mgcp_test.c
+++ b/openbsc/tests/mgcp/mgcp_test.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <openbsc/mgcp.h>
 #include <openbsc/mgcp_internal.h>
 
+#include <osmocom/core/application.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/talloc.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
@@ -74,11 +75,7 @@
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	struct log_target *stderr_target;
-	log_init(&log_info);
-	stderr_target = log_target_create_stderr();
-	log_add_target(stderr_target);
-	log_set_all_filter(stderr_target, 1);
+	osmo_init_logging(&log_info);
 
 	test_auep();
 	return 0;