diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8691f073..d9ac545b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES([TERMINOLOGY], [${requirements}])
 
 EFL_WITH_BIN([edje], [edje-cc], [edje_cc])
 
-with_max_log_level="<unset>"
+with_max_log_level="EINA_LOG_LEVEL_ERR"
 AC_ARG_WITH(maximum-log-level,
    [AC_HELP_STRING([--with-maximum-log-level=NUMBER],
                    [limit terminology log level to the given number, any call to EINA_LOG() with values greater than this will be compiled out, ignoring runtime settings, but saving function calls.])],
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(maximum-log-level,
     if test "x${withval}" != "xno"; then
        if echo "${withval}" | grep -E '^[[0-9]]+$' >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; then
           AC_MSG_NOTICE([ignoring any EINA_LOG() with level greater than ${withval}])
-          AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(EINA_LOG_LEVEL_MAXIMUM, ${withval}, [if set, logging is limited to this amount.])
           with_max_log_level="${withval}"
        else
           AC_MSG_ERROR([--with-maximum-log-level takes a decimal number, got "${withval}" instead.])
@@ -50,6 +49,8 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(maximum-log-level,
     fi
     ], [:])
 
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(EINA_LOG_LEVEL_MAXIMUM, ${with_max_log_level}, [if set, logging is limited to this amount.])
+
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([
 Makefile
 src/Makefile