diff --git a/go/cmd/entrypoint/main.go b/go/cmd/entrypoint/main.go
index 4512b0c..1a2a35a 100644
--- a/go/cmd/entrypoint/main.go
+++ b/go/cmd/entrypoint/main.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	logger := mlog.NewLogger(&mlog.LoggerOpts{
 		MessageHandler: newLogMsgHandler(),
-		MaxLevel:       mlog.LevelInfo.Int(),
+		MaxLevel:       mlog.LevelInfo.Int(), // TODO make this configurable
 	})
 	defer logger.Close()
 
diff --git a/go/daemon/children/children.go b/go/daemon/children/children.go
index 17f8b8f..5642ca7 100644
--- a/go/daemon/children/children.go
+++ b/go/daemon/children/children.go
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
-	"os"
 
 	"code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux/pmuxlib"
 	"dev.mediocregopher.com/mediocre-go-lib.git/mctx"
@@ -21,25 +19,13 @@ import (
 
 // Opts are optional parameters which can be passed in when initializing a new
 // Children instance. A nil Opts is equivalent to a zero value.
-type Opts struct {
-	// Stdout and Stderr are what the associated outputs from child processes
-	// will be directed to.
-	Stdout, Stderr io.Writer
-}
+type Opts struct{}
 
 func (o *Opts) withDefaults() *Opts {
 	if o == nil {
 		o = new(Opts)
 	}
 
-	if o.Stdout == nil {
-		o.Stdout = os.Stdout
-	}
-
-	if o.Stderr == nil {
-		o.Stderr = os.Stderr
-	}
-
 	return o
 }
 
@@ -50,13 +36,16 @@ func (o *Opts) withDefaults() *Opts {
 // - garage (0 or more, depending on configured storage allocations)
 type Children struct {
 	logger           *mlog.Logger
+	binDirPath       string
 	runtimeDir       toolkit.Dir
 	garageAdminToken string
 	opts             Opts
 
 	garageRPCSecret string
 
-	pmux *pmuxlib.Pmux
+	nebulaProc  *pmuxlib.Process
+	dnsmasqProc *pmuxlib.Process
+	garageProcs map[string]*pmuxlib.Process
 }
 
 // New initializes and returns a Children instance. If initialization fails an
@@ -84,33 +73,66 @@ func New(
 
 	c := &Children{
 		logger:           logger,
+		binDirPath:       binDirPath,
 		runtimeDir:       runtimeDir,
 		garageAdminToken: garageAdminToken,
 		opts:             *opts,
 		garageRPCSecret:  garageRPCSecret,
 	}
 
-	pmuxConfig, err := c.newPmuxConfig(
+	if c.nebulaProc, err = nebulaPmuxProc(
 		ctx,
+		c.logger,
+		c.runtimeDir.Path,
+		c.binDirPath,
+		networkConfig,
+		hostBootstrap,
+	); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("starting nebula: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := waitForNebula(ctx, c.logger, hostBootstrap); err != nil {
+		logger.Warn(ctx, "Failed waiting for nebula to initialize, shutting down child processes", err)
+		c.Shutdown()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("waiting for nebula to start: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if c.dnsmasqProc, err = dnsmasqPmuxProc(
+		ctx,
+		c.logger,
+		c.runtimeDir.Path,
+		c.binDirPath,
+		networkConfig,
+		hostBootstrap,
+	); err != nil {
+		logger.Warn(ctx, "Failed to start dnsmasq, shutting down child processes", err)
+		c.Shutdown()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("starting dnsmasq: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// TODO wait for dnsmasq to come up
+
+	if c.garageProcs, err = garagePmuxProcs(
+		ctx,
+		c.logger,
 		garageRPCSecret,
-		binDirPath,
+		c.runtimeDir.Path,
+		c.binDirPath,
 		networkConfig,
 		garageAdminToken,
 		hostBootstrap,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("generating pmux config: %w", err)
+	); err != nil {
+		logger.Warn(ctx, "Failed to start garage processes, shutting down child processes", err)
+		c.Shutdown()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("starting garage processes: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	c.pmux = pmuxlib.NewPmux(pmuxConfig, c.opts.Stdout, c.opts.Stderr)
-
-	initErr := c.postPmuxInit(
-		ctx, networkConfig, garageAdminToken, hostBootstrap,
-	)
-	if initErr != nil {
-		logger.Warn(ctx, "failed to initialize Children, shutting down child processes", err)
+	if err := waitForGarage(
+		ctx, c.logger, networkConfig, garageAdminToken, hostBootstrap,
+	); err != nil {
+		logger.Warn(ctx, "Failed waiting for garage processes to initialize, shutting down child processes", err)
 		c.Shutdown()
-		return nil, initErr
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("waiting for garage processes to initialize: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	return c, nil
@@ -133,7 +155,7 @@ func (c *Children) reloadDNSMasq(
 	}
 
 	c.logger.Info(ctx, "dnsmasq config file has changed, restarting process")
-	c.pmux.Restart("dnsmasq")
+	c.dnsmasqProc.Restart()
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -153,7 +175,7 @@ func (c *Children) reloadNebula(
 	}
 
 	c.logger.Info(ctx, "nebula config file has changed, restarting process")
-	c.pmux.Restart("nebula")
+	c.nebulaProc.Restart()
 
 	if err := waitForNebula(ctx, c.logger, hostBootstrap); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("waiting for nebula to start: %w", err)
@@ -184,7 +206,7 @@ func (c *Children) reloadGarage(
 			)
 		)
 
-		_, changed, err := garageWriteChildConfig(
+		childConfigPath, changed, err := garageWriteChildConfig(
 			ctx,
 			c.logger,
 			c.garageRPCSecret,
@@ -202,8 +224,16 @@ func (c *Children) reloadGarage(
 
 		anyChanged = true
 
-		c.logger.Info(ctx, "garage config has changed, restarting process")
-		c.pmux.Restart(procName)
+		if proc, ok := c.garageProcs[procName]; ok {
+			c.logger.Info(ctx, "garage config has changed, restarting process")
+			proc.Restart()
+			continue
+		}
+
+		c.logger.Info(ctx, "garage config has been added, creating process")
+		c.garageProcs[procName] = garagePmuxProc(
+			ctx, c.logger, c.binDirPath, procName, childConfigPath,
+		)
 	}
 
 	if anyChanged {
@@ -244,5 +274,15 @@ func (c *Children) Reload(
 // Shutdown blocks until all child processes have gracefully shut themselves
 // down.
 func (c *Children) Shutdown() {
-	c.pmux.Stop()
+	for _, proc := range c.garageProcs {
+		proc.Stop()
+	}
+
+	if c.dnsmasqProc != nil {
+		c.dnsmasqProc.Stop()
+	}
+
+	if c.nebulaProc != nil {
+		c.nebulaProc.Stop()
+	}
 }
diff --git a/go/daemon/children/dnsmasq.go b/go/daemon/children/dnsmasq.go
index f9cd21d..183a79f 100644
--- a/go/daemon/children/dnsmasq.go
+++ b/go/daemon/children/dnsmasq.go
@@ -49,37 +49,36 @@ func dnsmasqWriteConfig(
 	return confPath, changed, nil
 }
 
-func dnsmasqPmuxProcConfig(
+// TODO consider a shared dnsmasq across all the daemon's networks.
+// This would have a few benefits:
+//   - Less processes, less problems
+//   - Less configuration for the user in the case of more than one network.
+//   - Can listen on 127.0.0.x:53, rather than on the nebula address. This
+//     allows DNS to come up before nebula, which is helpful when nebula depends
+//     on DNS.
+func dnsmasqPmuxProc(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	logger *mlog.Logger,
 	runtimeDirPath, binDirPath string,
 	networkConfig daecommon.NetworkConfig,
 	hostBootstrap bootstrap.Bootstrap,
 ) (
-	pmuxlib.ProcessConfig, error,
+	*pmuxlib.Process, error,
 ) {
 	confPath, _, err := dnsmasqWriteConfig(
 		ctx, logger, runtimeDirPath, networkConfig, hostBootstrap,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		return pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{}, fmt.Errorf(
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
 			"writing dnsmasq config: %w", err,
 		)
 	}
 
-	return pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{
+	cfg := pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{
 		Cmd:  filepath.Join(binDirPath, "dnsmasq"),
 		Args: []string{"-d", "-C", confPath},
-		StartAfterFunc: func(ctx context.Context) error {
-			// TODO consider a shared dnsmasq across all the daemon's networks.
-			// This would have a few benefits:
-			// - Less processes, less problems
-			// - Less configuration for the user in the case of more than one
-			//   network.
-			// - Can listen on 127.0.0.x:53, rather than on the nebula address.
-			//   This allows DNS to come up before nebula, which is helpful when
-			//   nebula depends on DNS.
-			return waitForNebula(ctx, logger, hostBootstrap)
-		},
-	}, nil
+	}
+	cfg = withPmuxLoggers(ctx, logger, "dnsmasq", cfg)
+
+	return pmuxlib.NewProcess(cfg), nil
 }
diff --git a/go/daemon/children/garage.go b/go/daemon/children/garage.go
index 6b4b3bb..c8b220a 100644
--- a/go/daemon/children/garage.go
+++ b/go/daemon/children/garage.go
@@ -120,7 +120,24 @@ func garagePmuxProcName(alloc daecommon.ConfigStorageAllocation) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("garage-%d", alloc.RPCPort)
 }
 
-func garagePmuxProcConfigs(
+func garagePmuxProc(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	logger *mlog.Logger,
+	binDirPath string,
+	procName string,
+	childConfigPath string,
+) *pmuxlib.Process {
+	cfg := pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{
+		Cmd:  filepath.Join(binDirPath, "garage"),
+		Args: []string{"-c", childConfigPath, "server"},
+	}
+
+	cfg = withPmuxLoggers(ctx, logger, procName, cfg)
+
+	return pmuxlib.NewProcess(cfg)
+}
+
+func garagePmuxProcs(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	logger *mlog.Logger,
 	rpcSecret, runtimeDirPath, binDirPath string,
@@ -128,11 +145,11 @@ func garagePmuxProcConfigs(
 	adminToken string,
 	hostBootstrap bootstrap.Bootstrap,
 ) (
-	map[string]pmuxlib.ProcessConfig, error,
+	map[string]*pmuxlib.Process, error,
 ) {
 	var (
-		pmuxProcConfigs = map[string]pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{}
-		allocs          = networkConfig.Storage.Allocations
+		pmuxProcs = map[string]*pmuxlib.Process{}
+		allocs    = networkConfig.Storage.Allocations
 	)
 
 	if len(allocs) > 0 && rpcSecret == "" {
@@ -152,14 +169,10 @@ func garagePmuxProcConfigs(
 		}
 
 		procName := garagePmuxProcName(alloc)
-		pmuxProcConfigs[procName] = pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{
-			Cmd:  filepath.Join(binDirPath, "garage"),
-			Args: []string{"-c", childConfigPath, "server"},
-			StartAfterFunc: func(ctx context.Context) error {
-				return waitForNebula(ctx, logger, hostBootstrap)
-			},
-		}
+		pmuxProcs[procName] = garagePmuxProc(
+			ctx, logger, binDirPath, procName, childConfigPath,
+		)
 	}
 
-	return pmuxProcConfigs, nil
+	return pmuxProcs, nil
 }
diff --git a/go/daemon/children/logging.go b/go/daemon/children/logging.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60b78ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/daemon/children/logging.go
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package children
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"isle/toolkit"
+
+	"code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux/pmuxlib"
+	"dev.mediocregopher.com/mediocre-go-lib.git/mlog"
+)
+
+type pmuxLogger struct {
+	ctx    context.Context
+	logger *mlog.Logger
+}
+
+func newPmuxStdoutLogger(
+	ctx context.Context, logger *mlog.Logger, name string,
+) pmuxlib.Logger {
+	return &pmuxLogger{ctx, logger.WithNamespace(name).WithNamespace("out")}
+}
+
+func newPmuxStderrLogger(
+	ctx context.Context, logger *mlog.Logger, name string,
+) pmuxlib.Logger {
+	return &pmuxLogger{ctx, logger.WithNamespace(name).WithNamespace("err")}
+}
+
+func newPmuxSysLogger(
+	ctx context.Context, logger *mlog.Logger, name string,
+) pmuxlib.Logger {
+	return &pmuxLogger{ctx, logger.WithNamespace(name).WithNamespace("sys")}
+}
+
+func (l *pmuxLogger) Println(line string) {
+	l.logger.Log(mlog.Message{
+		Context:     l.ctx,
+		Level:       toolkit.LogLevelChild,
+		Description: line,
+	})
+}
+
+func (l *pmuxLogger) Printf(format string, args ...any) {
+	l.Println(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+func withPmuxLoggers(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	logger *mlog.Logger,
+	name string,
+	cfg pmuxlib.ProcessConfig,
+) pmuxlib.ProcessConfig {
+	cfg.StdoutLogger = newPmuxStdoutLogger(ctx, logger, name)
+	cfg.StderrLogger = newPmuxStderrLogger(ctx, logger, name)
+	cfg.SysLogger = newPmuxSysLogger(ctx, logger, name)
+	return cfg
+}
diff --git a/go/daemon/children/nebula.go b/go/daemon/children/nebula.go
index 76be3ac..473ecbb 100644
--- a/go/daemon/children/nebula.go
+++ b/go/daemon/children/nebula.go
@@ -174,27 +174,27 @@ func nebulaWriteConfig(
 	return nebulaYmlPath, changed, nil
 }
 
-func nebulaPmuxProcConfig(
+func nebulaPmuxProc(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	logger *mlog.Logger,
 	runtimeDirPath, binDirPath string,
 	networkConfig daecommon.NetworkConfig,
 	hostBootstrap bootstrap.Bootstrap,
 ) (
-	pmuxlib.ProcessConfig, error,
+	*pmuxlib.Process, error,
 ) {
 	nebulaYmlPath, _, err := nebulaWriteConfig(
 		ctx, logger, runtimeDirPath, networkConfig, hostBootstrap,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		return pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{}, fmt.Errorf(
-			"writing nebula config: %w", err,
-		)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("writing nebula config: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	return pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{
-		Cmd:   filepath.Join(binDirPath, "nebula"),
-		Args:  []string{"-config", nebulaYmlPath},
-		Group: -1, // Make sure nebula is shut down last.
-	}, nil
+	cfg := pmuxlib.ProcessConfig{
+		Cmd:  filepath.Join(binDirPath, "nebula"),
+		Args: []string{"-config", nebulaYmlPath},
+	}
+	cfg = withPmuxLoggers(ctx, logger, "nebula", cfg)
+
+	return pmuxlib.NewProcess(cfg), nil
 }
diff --git a/go/daemon/children/pmux.go b/go/daemon/children/pmux.go
deleted file mode 100644
index bf19444..0000000
--- a/go/daemon/children/pmux.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,90 +0,0 @@
-package children
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"fmt"
-	"isle/bootstrap"
-	"isle/daemon/daecommon"
-
-	"code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux/pmuxlib"
-)
-
-func (c *Children) newPmuxConfig(
-	ctx context.Context,
-	garageRPCSecret, binDirPath string,
-	networkConfig daecommon.NetworkConfig,
-	garageAdminToken string,
-	hostBootstrap bootstrap.Bootstrap,
-) (
-	pmuxlib.Config, error,
-) {
-	nebulaPmuxProcConfig, err := nebulaPmuxProcConfig(
-		ctx,
-		c.logger,
-		c.runtimeDir.Path,
-		binDirPath,
-		networkConfig,
-		hostBootstrap,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return pmuxlib.Config{}, fmt.Errorf("generating nebula config: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	dnsmasqPmuxProcConfig, err := dnsmasqPmuxProcConfig(
-		ctx,
-		c.logger,
-		c.runtimeDir.Path,
-		binDirPath,
-		networkConfig,
-		hostBootstrap,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return pmuxlib.Config{}, fmt.Errorf(
-			"generating dnsmasq config: %w", err,
-		)
-	}
-
-	garagePmuxProcConfigs, err := garagePmuxProcConfigs(
-		ctx,
-		c.logger,
-		garageRPCSecret,
-		c.runtimeDir.Path,
-		binDirPath,
-		networkConfig,
-		garageAdminToken,
-		hostBootstrap,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return pmuxlib.Config{}, fmt.Errorf(
-			"generating garage children configs: %w", err,
-		)
-	}
-
-	pmuxProcConfigs := garagePmuxProcConfigs
-	pmuxProcConfigs["nebula"] = nebulaPmuxProcConfig
-	pmuxProcConfigs["dnsmasq"] = dnsmasqPmuxProcConfig
-
-	return pmuxlib.Config{
-		Processes: pmuxProcConfigs,
-	}, nil
-}
-
-func (c *Children) postPmuxInit(
-	ctx context.Context,
-	networkConfig daecommon.NetworkConfig,
-	garageAdminToken string,
-	hostBootstrap bootstrap.Bootstrap,
-) error {
-	if err := waitForNebula(ctx, c.logger, hostBootstrap); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("waiting for nebula to start: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	err := waitForGarage(
-		ctx, c.logger, networkConfig, garageAdminToken, hostBootstrap,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("waiting for garage to start: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/go/daemon/jsonrpc2/jsonrpc2_test.go b/go/daemon/jsonrpc2/jsonrpc2_test.go
index f1cb888..53ee67b 100644
--- a/go/daemon/jsonrpc2/jsonrpc2_test.go
+++ b/go/daemon/jsonrpc2/jsonrpc2_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
+	"isle/toolkit"
 	"net"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -11,8 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
-
-	"dev.mediocregopher.com/mediocre-go-lib.git/mlog"
 )
 
 type DivideParams struct {
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ type divider interface {
 
 func testHandler(t *testing.T) Handler {
 	var (
-		logger = mlog.NewTestLogger(t)
+		logger = toolkit.NewTestLogger(t)
 		d      = divider(dividerImpl{})
 	)
 
diff --git a/go/daemon/network/network_it_util_test.go b/go/daemon/network/network_it_util_test.go
index a68add4..e7c724b 100644
--- a/go/daemon/network/network_it_util_test.go
+++ b/go/daemon/network/network_it_util_test.go
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"isle/bootstrap"
-	"isle/daemon/children"
 	"isle/daemon/daecommon"
 	"isle/nebula"
 	"isle/toolkit"
@@ -100,10 +98,8 @@ func newIntegrationHarness(t *testing.T) *integrationHarness {
 	})
 
 	return &integrationHarness{
-		ctx: context.Background(),
-		logger: mlog.NewLogger(&mlog.LoggerOpts{
-			MessageHandler: mlog.NewTestMessageHandler(t),
-		}),
+		ctx:     context.Background(),
+		logger:  toolkit.NewTestLogger(t),
 		rootDir: toolkit.Dir{Path: rootDir},
 	}
 }
@@ -170,36 +166,6 @@ func (h *integrationHarness) mkNetworkConfig(
 	)
 }
 
-func (h *integrationHarness) mkChildrenOpts(
-	t *testing.T, runtimeDir toolkit.Dir,
-) *children.Opts {
-	var (
-		childrenLogFilePath = filepath.Join(runtimeDir.Path, "children.log")
-		childrenOpts        children.Opts
-	)
-
-	childrenLogFile, err := os.Create(childrenLogFilePath)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	t.Cleanup(func() {
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
-	})
-
-	if os.Getenv("ISLE_INTEGRATION_TEST_CHILDREN_LOG_STDOUT") == "" {
-		childrenOpts = children.Opts{
-			Stdout: childrenLogFile,
-			Stderr: childrenLogFile,
-		}
-	} else {
-		childrenOpts = children.Opts{
-			Stdout: io.MultiWriter(os.Stdout, childrenLogFile),
-			Stderr: io.MultiWriter(os.Stdout, childrenLogFile),
-		}
-	}
-
-	return &childrenOpts
-}
-
 type createNetworkOpts struct {
 	creationParams bootstrap.CreationParams
 	manualShutdown bool
@@ -248,7 +214,6 @@ func (h *integrationHarness) createNetwork(
 		hostName = nebula.HostName(hostNameStr)
 
 		networkOpts = &Opts{
-			ChildrenOpts:     h.mkChildrenOpts(t, runtimeDir),
 			GarageAdminToken: "admin_token",
 		}
 	)
@@ -327,7 +292,6 @@ func (h *integrationHarness) joinNetwork(
 		stateDir      = h.mkDir(t, "state")
 		runtimeDir    = h.mkDir(t, "runtime")
 		networkOpts   = &Opts{
-			ChildrenOpts:     h.mkChildrenOpts(t, runtimeDir),
 			GarageAdminToken: "admin_token",
 		}
 	)
diff --git a/go/go.mod b/go/go.mod
index 51f0027..6a8ffa7 100644
--- a/go/go.mod
+++ b/go/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module isle
 go 1.22
 
 require (
-	code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux v0.0.0-20240719134913-f5fce902e8c4
+	code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux v0.0.0-20241029124408-55bc7097f7b8
 	dev.mediocregopher.com/mediocre-go-lib.git v0.0.0-20241023182613-55984cdf5233
 	github.com/adrg/xdg v0.4.0
 	github.com/jxskiss/base62 v1.1.0
diff --git a/go/go.sum b/go/go.sum
index ced5ae9..8ae7ce7 100644
--- a/go/go.sum
+++ b/go/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux v0.0.0-20240719134913-f5fce902e8c4 h1:n4pGP12kgdH5kCTF4TZYpOjWuAR/zZLpM9j3neeVMEk=
 code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux v0.0.0-20240719134913-f5fce902e8c4/go.mod h1:WlEWacLREVfIQl1IlBjKzuDgL56DFRvyl7YiL5gGP4w=
+code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux v0.0.0-20241029124408-55bc7097f7b8 h1:DTAMr60/y9ZtpMORg50LYGpxyvA9+3UFKVW4mb4CwAE=
+code.betamike.com/micropelago/pmux v0.0.0-20241029124408-55bc7097f7b8/go.mod h1:WlEWacLREVfIQl1IlBjKzuDgL56DFRvyl7YiL5gGP4w=
 dev.mediocregopher.com/mediocre-go-lib.git v0.0.0-20241023182613-55984cdf5233 h1:Ea4HixNfDNDPh7zMngPpEeDf8gpociSPEROBFBedqIY=
 dev.mediocregopher.com/mediocre-go-lib.git v0.0.0-20241023182613-55984cdf5233/go.mod h1:nP+AtQWrc3k5qq5y3ABiBLkOfUPlk/FO9fpTFpF+jgs=
 github.com/adrg/xdg v0.4.0 h1:RzRqFcjH4nE5C6oTAxhBtoE2IRyjBSa62SCbyPidvls=
diff --git a/go/toolkit/logging.go b/go/toolkit/logging.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae979a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/toolkit/logging.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package toolkit
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+
+	"dev.mediocregopher.com/mediocre-go-lib.git/mlog"
+)
+
+type logLevel struct {
+	level int
+	name  string
+}
+
+func (l logLevel) Int() int       { return l.level }
+func (l logLevel) String() string { return l.name }
+
+var (
+	// LogLevelChild is used for logging out the stdout, stderr, and system logs
+	// (from pmux) related to child processes.
+	LogLevelChild mlog.Level = logLevel{mlog.LevelInfo.Int() + 1, "CHILD"}
+)
+
+// LogLevelFromString parses a string as a log level, taking into account custom
+// log levels introduced in Isle.
+func LogLevelFromString(str string) mlog.Level {
+	switch strings.TrimSpace(strings.ToUpper(str)) {
+	case LogLevelChild.String():
+		return LogLevelChild
+	default:
+		return mlog.LevelFromString(str)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/go/toolkit/testutils.go b/go/toolkit/testutils.go
index b61d135..3cc1434 100644
--- a/go/toolkit/testutils.go
+++ b/go/toolkit/testutils.go
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 package toolkit
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
+
+	"dev.mediocregopher.com/mediocre-go-lib.git/mlog"
 )
 
 // MarkIntegrationTest marks a test as being an integration test. It will be
@@ -12,3 +15,19 @@ func MarkIntegrationTest(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Skip("Skipped because ISLE_INTEGRATION_TEST isn't set")
 	}
 }
+
+// NewTestLogger returns a Logger which should be used for testing purposes. The
+// log level of the Logger can be adjusted using the ISLE_LOG_LEVEL envvar.
+func NewTestLogger(t *testing.T) *mlog.Logger {
+	level := mlog.LevelInfo
+	if levelStr := os.Getenv("ISLE_LOG_LEVEL"); levelStr != "" {
+		if level = LogLevelFromString(levelStr); level == nil {
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid log level: %q", levelStr))
+		}
+	}
+
+	return mlog.NewLogger(&mlog.LoggerOpts{
+		MessageHandler: mlog.NewTestMessageHandler(t),
+		MaxLevel:       level.Int(),
+	})
+}