diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 34b4402..1a6d974 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib"
-	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib/core"
 )
 
 type Cfg struct {
@@ -40,16 +39,10 @@ func (cfg *base) Starter() lib.StartProc {
 }
 
 func (cfg *base) Step() lib.StepProc {
-	if cfg.step == nil {
-		return core.Step
-	}
 	return cfg.step
 }
 
 func (cfg *base) MessageHandler() lib.MessageHandler {
-	if cfg.msgHandler == nil {
-		return core.HandleMessage
-	}
 	return cfg.msgHandler
 }
 
@@ -86,12 +79,18 @@ func (cfg *base) AddAction(pattern string, specs ...lib.ActionSpec) lib.Config {
 
 func Base(name string, starter lib.StartProc) *base {
 	return &base{
-		name:    name,
-		starter: starter,
-		actions: nil,
+		name:       name,
+		starter:    starter,
+		step:       Step,
+		msgHandler: MsgHandler,
+		actions:    nil,
 	}
 }
 
+// will be set by core.init()
+var Step lib.StepProc
+var MsgHandler lib.MessageHandler
+
 // action configuration
 
 type action struct {
diff --git a/lib/action/action.go b/lib/action/action.go
index fe959e8..ee27d20 100644
--- a/lib/action/action.go
+++ b/lib/action/action.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib"
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib/message"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/logging/log"
 )
 
 type BaseSpec = baseSpec
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ func Select(ctx lib.Context, msg lib.Message) []lib.Action {
 
 func match(ac lib.ActionConfig, msg lib.Message) bool {
 	fmt.Println("action.match", ac.Pattern(), msg.Action())
+	log.Debug().Str("pattern", ac.Pattern()).Str("action", msg.Action()).
+		Msg("action.match")
 	return ac.Pattern() == msg.Action()
 	//return false
 }
diff --git a/lib/core/core.go b/lib/core/core.go
index 5d2eed2..4dcbbab 100644
--- a/lib/core/core.go
+++ b/lib/core/core.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package core
 import (
 	"fmt"
 
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/config"
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib"
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib/action"
 )
@@ -38,3 +39,8 @@ func HandleMessage(ctx lib.Context, msg lib.Message) (loop bool) {
 	}
 	return
 }
+
+func init() {
+	config.Step = Step // avoid import cycle
+	config.MsgHandler = HandleMessage
+}
diff --git a/logging/logging.go b/logging/logging.go
index de5a09c..b847dd3 100644
--- a/logging/logging.go
+++ b/logging/logging.go
@@ -53,10 +53,15 @@ func New(cfg *Cfg, home string) (*Logger, error) {
 		GetLogger(nil).Err(err).Msg("logging.New: open log file")
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	lc := zerolog.New(f).With().Timestamp()
-	// TODO: evaluate cfg.Level
-	// lc.Level(level)
-	logger := lc.Logger()
+	logger := zerolog.New(f).With().Timestamp().Logger()
+	if cfg.Level != "" {
+		if lvl, ok := Levels[cfg.Level]; ok {
+			logger = logger.Level(lvl)
+		} else {
+			GetLogger(nil).Warn().Str("level", cfg.Level).
+				Msg("logging.New: undefined level")
+		}
+	}
 	return &logger, nil
 }