diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d8e50f6b0..8cdc10419 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@
 - Added a `pin-latest` setting to `~/.proto/config.toml` that'll automatically pin tools when they're being installed with the "latest" version.
 - Updated `proto install` to auto-clean stale plugins after a successful installation.
 
+#### ⚙️ Internal
+
+- Added `PROTO_WASM_LOG` environment variable to toggle the logging of messages from Extism and WASM plugins. Useful for debugging.
+
 ## 0.18.5
 
 #### ⚙️ Internal
diff --git a/crates/cli/src/main.rs b/crates/cli/src/main.rs
index 14f8ad0a8..026469457 100644
--- a/crates/cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/cli/src/main.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ async fn main() -> MainResult {
             LevelFilter::INFO
         },
         filter_modules: string_vec!["proto", "starbase", "warpgate"],
+        // This swallows logs from extism when enabled
+        intercept_log: env::var("PROTO_WASM_LOG").is_err(),
         log_env: "STARBASE_LOG".into(),
         test_env: "PROTO_TEST".into(),
         ..TracingOptions::default()
diff --git a/crates/core/src/helpers.rs b/crates/core/src/helpers.rs
index 43c95a948..c9a7ab6cd 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/helpers.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/helpers.rs
@@ -16,11 +16,6 @@ use tracing::trace;
 
 pub static ENV_VAR: Lazy<Regex> = Lazy::new(|| Regex::new(r"\$([A-Z0-9_]+)").unwrap());
 
-#[deprecated = "Use `get_proto_home` instead."]
-pub fn get_root() -> miette::Result<PathBuf> {
-    get_proto_home()
-}
-
 pub fn get_proto_home() -> miette::Result<PathBuf> {
     if let Ok(root) = env::var("PROTO_HOME") {
         return Ok(root.into());
diff --git a/crates/core/src/tool.rs b/crates/core/src/tool.rs
index 00b5c3d8e..0c4b6d348 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/tool.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/tool.rs
@@ -108,9 +108,11 @@ impl Tool {
             on_uninstalled_global: Emitter::new(),
         };
 
-        #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
-        {
-            extism::set_log_file(proto.cwd.join("wasm-debug.log"), None);
+        if let Ok(level) = env::var("PROTO_WASM_LOG") {
+            extism::set_log_file(
+                proto.cwd.join("wasm-debug.log"),
+                std::str::FromStr::from_str(&level).ok(),
+            );
         }
 
         debug!(