diff --git a/src/fastcs/launch.py b/src/fastcs/launch.py
index eec14114c..7165fbf8b 100644
--- a/src/fastcs/launch.py
+++ b/src/fastcs/launch.py
@@ -105,10 +105,7 @@ def run(
                 help=f"A yaml file matching the {controller_class.__name__} schema"
             ),
         ],
-        log_level: Annotated[
-            Optional[LogLevel],  # noqa: UP045
-            typer.Option(),
-        ] = None,
+        log_level: Annotated[LogLevel, typer.Option()] = LogLevel.INFO,
         graylog_endpoint: Annotated[
             Optional[GraylogEndpoint],  # noqa: UP045
             typer.Option(
diff --git a/src/fastcs/logging/__init__.py b/src/fastcs/logging/__init__.py
index 9c60ff3a5..ba11b087e 100644
--- a/src/fastcs/logging/__init__.py
+++ b/src/fastcs/logging/__init__.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 drivers. This logger uses ``loguru`` as underlying logging library, which enables much
 simpler configuration as well as structured logging.
 
-Keyword arguments to log statments will be attached as extra fields on the log record.
+Keyword arguments to log statements will be attached as extra fields on the log record.
 These fields are displayed separately in the console output and can used for filtering
 and metrics in graylog.
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def bind_logger(logger_name: str) -> Logger:
 
 
 def configure_logging(
-    level: LogLevel | None = None,
+    level: LogLevel = LogLevel.INFO,
     graylog_endpoint: GraylogEndpoint | None = None,
     graylog_static_fields: GraylogStaticFields | None = None,
     graylog_env_fields: GraylogEnvFields | None = None,
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def configure_logging(
 
 
 # Configure logger with defaults - INFO level and disabled
-configure_logging()
+_configure_logger(logger)
 
 
 class _StdLoggingInterceptHandler(logging.Handler):
diff --git a/src/fastcs/logging/_logging.py b/src/fastcs/logging/_logging.py
index 1114a6dbd..3dc2ba2fc 100644
--- a/src/fastcs/logging/_logging.py
+++ b/src/fastcs/logging/_logging.py
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ def format_record(record) -> str:
     else:
         extras = ""
 
+    # Escape braces so Loguru doesn't parse them as format placeholders
+    extras = extras.replace("{", "{{").replace("}", "}}")
+
     return f"""\
 <level>[{time} {record["level"].name[0]}]</level> \
 {record["message"]:<80} \