diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2ea95c30..c1adb9bd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ For debugging and configuring logging, you can set the following environment var
 - `NVIM_NODE_HOST_DEBUG`: Spawns the node process that calls `neovim-client-host` with `--inspect-brk` so you can have a debugger.
   Pair that with this [Node Inspector Manager Chrome plugin](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/nodejs-v8-inspector-manag/gnhhdgbaldcilmgcpfddgdbkhjohddkj?hl=en)
 - Logging: Logging is done using `winston` through the `logger` module. This package replaces `console` with this interface.
-  - `NVIM_NODE_LOG_LEVEL`: Sets the logging level for winston. Default is `debug`.
+  - `NVIM_NODE_LOG_LEVEL`: Sets the logging level for winston. Default is `error`.
     Available levels: `{ error: 0, warn: 1, info: 2, verbose: 3, debug: 4, silly: 5 }`
   - `NVIM_NODE_LOG_FILE`: Sets the log file path.
 - Usage through node REPL
diff --git a/packages/neovim/src/utils/logger.ts b/packages/neovim/src/utils/logger.ts
index 726d0ff5..28d0fe12 100644
--- a/packages/neovim/src/utils/logger.ts
+++ b/packages/neovim/src/utils/logger.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import * as winston from 'winston';
 import { inspect } from 'node:util';
 
-const level = process.env.NVIM_NODE_LOG_LEVEL || 'debug';
+const level = process.env.NVIM_NODE_LOG_LEVEL || 'error';
 
 const loggerKeys = ['info', 'warn', 'error', 'debug', 'level'] as const;
 export type Logger = Pick<winston.Logger, (typeof loggerKeys)[number]>;
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ function setupWinstonLogger(): Logger {
 let _logger: Logger; // singleton
 export function getLogger() {
   if (!_logger) {
+    if (!process.env.NVIM_NODE_LOG_LEVEL) {
+      process.stderr.write(
+        "Note: Default log level changed from 'debug' to 'error'. Set NVIM_NODE_LOG_LEVEL=debug for verbose logging.\n"
+      );
+    }
     _logger = setupWinstonLogger();
   }
   return _logger;