diff --git a/src/libstd/logging.rs b/src/libstd/logging.rs
index c2f854179b8d..743b71e33ea8 100644
--- a/src/libstd/logging.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/logging.rs
@@ -11,13 +11,20 @@
 //! Logging
 
 use option::*;
+use os;
 use either::*;
+use rt;
+use rt::OldTaskContext;
 use rt::logging::{Logger, StdErrLogger};
 
 /// Turns on logging to stdout globally
 pub fn console_on() {
-    unsafe {
-        rustrt::rust_log_console_on();
+    if rt::context() == OldTaskContext {
+        unsafe {
+            rustrt::rust_log_console_on();
+        }
+    } else {
+        rt::logging::console_on();
     }
 }
 
@@ -29,8 +36,17 @@ pub fn console_on() {
  * the RUST_LOG environment variable
  */
 pub fn console_off() {
-    unsafe {
-        rustrt::rust_log_console_off();
+    // If RUST_LOG is set then the console can't be turned off
+    if os::getenv("RUST_LOG").is_some() {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if rt::context() == OldTaskContext {
+        unsafe {
+            rustrt::rust_log_console_off();
+        }
+    } else {
+        rt::logging::console_off();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libstd/rt/logging.rs b/src/libstd/rt/logging.rs
index a0d053976891..84186180aa65 100644
--- a/src/libstd/rt/logging.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/rt/logging.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 // except according to those terms.
 
 use either::*;
+use libc;
 
 pub trait Logger {
     fn log(&mut self, msg: Either<~str, &'static str>);
@@ -20,6 +21,10 @@ impl Logger for StdErrLogger {
     fn log(&mut self, msg: Either<~str, &'static str>) {
         use io::{Writer, WriterUtil};
 
+        if !should_log_console() {
+            return;
+        }
+
         let s: &str = match msg {
             Left(ref s) => {
                 let s: &str = *s;
@@ -44,7 +49,6 @@ pub fn init(crate_map: *u8) {
     use str;
     use ptr;
     use option::{Some, None};
-    use libc::c_char;
 
     let log_spec = os::getenv("RUST_LOG");
     match log_spec {
@@ -61,8 +65,16 @@ pub fn init(crate_map: *u8) {
             }
         }
     }
-
-    extern {
-        fn rust_update_log_settings(crate_map: *u8, settings: *c_char);
-    }
 }
+
+pub fn console_on() { unsafe { rust_log_console_on() } }
+pub fn console_off() { unsafe { rust_log_console_off() } }
+fn should_log_console() -> bool { unsafe { rust_should_log_console() != 0 } }
+
+extern {
+    fn rust_update_log_settings(crate_map: *u8, settings: *libc::c_char);
+    fn rust_log_console_on();
+    fn rust_log_console_off();
+    fn rust_should_log_console() -> libc::uintptr_t;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/rt/rust_builtin.cpp b/src/rt/rust_builtin.cpp
index 86b8881b9f2e..f0b68d4a1569 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_builtin.cpp
+++ b/src/rt/rust_builtin.cpp
@@ -591,12 +591,18 @@ rust_log_console_on() {
     log_console_on();
 }
 
-extern void log_console_off(rust_env *env);
+extern void log_console_off();
 
 extern "C" CDECL void
 rust_log_console_off() {
-    rust_task *task = rust_get_current_task();
-    log_console_off(task->kernel->env);
+    log_console_off();
+}
+
+extern bool should_log_console();
+
+extern "C" CDECL uintptr_t
+rust_should_log_console() {
+    return (uintptr_t)should_log_console();
 }
 
 extern "C" CDECL void
diff --git a/src/rt/rust_log.cpp b/src/rt/rust_log.cpp
index df24f569495b..8179c53e96d5 100644
--- a/src/rt/rust_log.cpp
+++ b/src/rt/rust_log.cpp
@@ -43,11 +43,15 @@ log_console_on() {
  * overridden by the environment.
  */
 void
-log_console_off(rust_env *env) {
+log_console_off() {
     scoped_lock with(_log_lock);
-    if (env->logspec == NULL) {
-        _log_to_console = false;
-    }
+    _log_to_console = false;
+}
+
+bool
+should_log_console() {
+    scoped_lock with(_log_lock);
+    return _log_to_console;
 }
 
 rust_log::rust_log(rust_sched_loop *sched_loop) :
diff --git a/src/rt/rustrt.def.in b/src/rt/rustrt.def.in
index ca813c5d3ae5..950662b91f8e 100644
--- a/src/rt/rustrt.def.in
+++ b/src/rt/rustrt.def.in
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ rust_list_dir_wfd_size
 rust_list_dir_wfd_fp_buf
 rust_log_console_on
 rust_log_console_off
+rust_should_log_console
 rust_set_environ
 rust_unset_sigprocmask
 rust_sched_current_nonlazy_threads