diff --git a/lib/bcoin/logger.js b/lib/bcoin/logger.js
index d0cb10d7..2d36e2bd 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/logger.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/logger.js
@@ -324,8 +324,10 @@ Logger.prototype._error = function error(err) {
 
   this.log('error', [msg]);
 
-  if (this.stream)
-    this.stream.write(err.stack + '\n');
+  if (this.level >= Logger.levels.spam) {
+    if (this.stream)
+      this.stream.write(err.stack + '\n');
+  }
 };
 
 /**