diff --git a/client/log.py b/client/log.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a3532d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/log.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""Structured stdout logging suitable for journald capture."""
+import logging
+import os
+import sys
+
+_CONFIGURED = False
+
+
+def configure(level: str | int | None = None) -> None:
+    """Configure root logging once. Safe to call multiple times."""
+    global _CONFIGURED
+    if _CONFIGURED:
+        return
+    if level is None:
+        level = os.environ.get("ASSISTANT_LOG_LEVEL", "INFO").upper()
+    logging.basicConfig(
+        level=level,
+        format="%(asctime)s %(levelname)-5s %(name)s %(message)s",
+        datefmt="%H:%M:%S",
+        stream=sys.stdout,
+    )
+    _CONFIGURED = True
+
+
+def get_logger(name: str) -> logging.Logger:
+    """Return a logger named `name`; auto-configure on first call."""
+    configure()
+    return logging.getLogger(name)