diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/server/__init__.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/server/__init__.py
index 137863bb..bf73dd69 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/server/__init__.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/server/__init__.py
@@ -72,9 +72,10 @@ def set_shutdown_function(shutdown_function: Callable[[], None]) -> None:
 
 
 def customise_server(
-    server: lt.ThingServer, application_config: OFMApplicationData
+    server: lt.ThingServer, application_config: OFMApplicationData,
+    debug: bool
 ) -> None:
-    """Customise the server with additional endpoints, etc."""
+    """Customise the server with additional endpoints, debug mode etc."""
     if DEVELOPER_MODE:
         # Allow CORS in developer mode for easier testing with the webapp
         server.app.add_middleware(
@@ -88,6 +89,10 @@ def customise_server(
     add_v2_endpoints(server)
     add_static_files(server.app, application_config.data_folder)
 
+    # Configure logging to DEBUG if requested in CLI args.
+    if debug:
+        lt.logs.configure_thing_logger(logging.DEBUG)
+
     # Add an endpoint to get the logs - (directly calling the FastAPI decorator)
     server.app.get("/log/")(retrieve_log)
     server.app.get("/logfile/")(retrieve_log_from_file)
@@ -114,7 +119,8 @@ def serve_from_cli(argv: Optional[list[str]] = None) -> None:
         configure_logging(application_config.log_folder)
 
         server = lt.ThingServer.from_config(lt_config)
-        customise_server(server, application_config)
+        debug = True if args.debug else False
+        customise_server(server, application_config, debug)
 
         def shutdown_call() -> None:
             try: