diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Init.c b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Init.c
index ef62095e5..93808d01e 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Init.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Init.c
@@ -878,7 +878,7 @@ void
 xf86SetLogVerbosity(int verb)
 {
     xf86LogVerbose = verb;
-    LogSetParameter(XLOG_FILE_VERBOSITY, verb);
+    logFileVerbosity = verb;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/hw/xwin/InitOutput.c b/hw/xwin/InitOutput.c
index 16d505e38..d89f71a52 100644
--- a/hw/xwin/InitOutput.c
+++ b/hw/xwin/InitOutput.c
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ OsVendorInit(void)
 
     }
     logVerbosity = 2;
-    LogSetParameter(XLOG_FILE_VERBOSITY, logVerbosity);
+    logFileVerbosity = 2;
 
     /* Log the version information */
     if (serverGeneration == 1)
diff --git a/os/log.c b/os/log.c
index 403894ff4..e36806825 100644
--- a/os/log.c
+++ b/os/log.c
@@ -111,9 +111,9 @@ OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 Bool logSync = FALSE;
 int logVerbosity = DEFAULT_LOG_VERBOSITY;
+int logFileVerbosity = DEFAULT_LOG_FILE_VERBOSITY;
 
 static int logFileFd = -1;
-static int logFileVerbosity = DEFAULT_LOG_FILE_VERBOSITY;
 
 /* Buffer to information logged before the log file is opened. */
 static char *saveBuffer = NULL;
diff --git a/os/log_priv.h b/os/log_priv.h
index 3d5667f61..e1246814c 100644
--- a/os/log_priv.h
+++ b/os/log_priv.h
@@ -23,4 +23,12 @@ extern Bool logSync;
  */
 extern int logVerbosity;
 
+/**
+ * @brief log file verbosity
+ *
+ * The verbosity level of logging to per-display file. All messages with
+ * verbosity level below this one will be written to the log file.
+ */
+extern int logFileVerbosity;
+
 #endif /* _XSERVER_LOG_PRIV_H */