diff --git a/entry.go b/entry.go
index 4edbe7a..320e5d5 100644
--- a/entry.go
+++ b/entry.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (entry Entry) log(level Level, msg string) {
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Debug(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= DebugLevel {
 		entry.log(DebugLevel, fmt.Sprint(args...))
 	}
 }
@@ -136,13 +136,13 @@ func (entry *Entry) Print(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Info(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= InfoLevel {
 		entry.log(InfoLevel, fmt.Sprint(args...))
 	}
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Warn(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry.log(WarnLevel, fmt.Sprint(args...))
 	}
 }
@@ -152,20 +152,20 @@ func (entry *Entry) Warning(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Error(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= ErrorLevel {
 		entry.log(ErrorLevel, fmt.Sprint(args...))
 	}
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Fatal(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= FatalLevel {
 		entry.log(FatalLevel, fmt.Sprint(args...))
 	}
 	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Panic(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= PanicLevel {
 		entry.log(PanicLevel, fmt.Sprint(args...))
 	}
 	panic(fmt.Sprint(args...))
@@ -174,13 +174,13 @@ func (entry *Entry) Panic(args ...interface{}) {
 // Entry Printf family functions
 
 func (entry *Entry) Debugf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= DebugLevel {
 		entry.Debug(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
 	}
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Infof(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= InfoLevel {
 		entry.Info(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
 	}
 }
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ func (entry *Entry) Printf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Warnf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry.Warn(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
 	}
 }
@@ -200,20 +200,20 @@ func (entry *Entry) Warningf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Errorf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= ErrorLevel {
 		entry.Error(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
 	}
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Fatalf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= FatalLevel {
 		entry.Fatal(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
 	}
 	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Panicf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= PanicLevel {
 		entry.Panic(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
 	}
 }
@@ -221,13 +221,13 @@ func (entry *Entry) Panicf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 // Entry Println family functions
 
 func (entry *Entry) Debugln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= DebugLevel {
 		entry.Debug(entry.sprintlnn(args...))
 	}
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Infoln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= InfoLevel {
 		entry.Info(entry.sprintlnn(args...))
 	}
 }
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ func (entry *Entry) Println(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Warnln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry.Warn(entry.sprintlnn(args...))
 	}
 }
@@ -247,20 +247,20 @@ func (entry *Entry) Warningln(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Errorln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= ErrorLevel {
 		entry.Error(entry.sprintlnn(args...))
 	}
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Fatalln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= FatalLevel {
 		entry.Fatal(entry.sprintlnn(args...))
 	}
 	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Panicln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if entry.Logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
+	if entry.Logger.level() >= PanicLevel {
 		entry.Panic(entry.sprintlnn(args...))
 	}
 }
diff --git a/exported.go b/exported.go
index 9a0120a..1aeaa90 100644
--- a/exported.go
+++ b/exported.go
@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@ func SetFormatter(formatter Formatter) {
 func SetLevel(level Level) {
 	std.mu.Lock()
 	defer std.mu.Unlock()
-	std.Level = level
+	std.setLevel(level)
 }
 
 // GetLevel returns the standard logger level.
 func GetLevel() Level {
 	std.mu.Lock()
 	defer std.mu.Unlock()
-	return std.Level
+	return std.level()
 }
 
 // AddHook adds a hook to the standard logger hooks.
diff --git a/logger.go b/logger.go
index b769f3d..370fff5 100644
--- a/logger.go
+++ b/logger.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 )
 
 type Logger struct {
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) WithError(err error) *Entry {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Debugf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= DebugLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Debugf(format, args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Debugf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Infof(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= InfoLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Infof(format, args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Printf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warnf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Warnf(format, args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Warnf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warningf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Warnf(format, args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Warningf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Errorf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= ErrorLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Errorf(format, args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Errorf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Fatalf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= FatalLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Fatalf(format, args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Fatalf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Panicf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= PanicLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Panicf(format, args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Panicf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Debug(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= DebugLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Debug(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Debug(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Info(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= InfoLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Info(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Print(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warn(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Warn(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Warn(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warning(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Warn(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -213,7 +214,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Warning(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Error(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= ErrorLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Error(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Error(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Fatal(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= FatalLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Fatal(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -230,7 +231,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Fatal(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Panic(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= PanicLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Panic(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Panic(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Debugln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= DebugLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Debugln(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -246,7 +247,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Debugln(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Infoln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= InfoLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Infoln(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -260,7 +261,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Println(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warnln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Warnln(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Warnln(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warningln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= WarnLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Warnln(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -276,7 +277,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Warningln(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Errorln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= ErrorLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Errorln(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -284,7 +285,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Errorln(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Fatalln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= FatalLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Fatalln(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -293,7 +294,7 @@ func (logger *Logger) Fatalln(args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Panicln(args ...interface{}) {
-	if logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
+	if logger.level() >= PanicLevel {
 		entry := logger.newEntry()
 		entry.Panicln(args...)
 		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
@@ -306,3 +307,11 @@ func (logger *Logger) Panicln(args ...interface{}) {
 func (logger *Logger) SetNoLock() {
 	logger.mu.Disable()
 }
+
+func (logger *Logger) level() Level {
+	return Level(atomic.LoadUint32((*uint32)(&logger.Level)))
+}
+
+func (logger *Logger) setLevel(level Level) {
+	atomic.StoreUint32((*uint32)(&logger.Level), uint32(level))
+}
diff --git a/logrus.go b/logrus.go
index e596691..dd38999 100644
--- a/logrus.go
+++ b/logrus.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 type Fields map[string]interface{}
 
 // Level type
-type Level uint8
+type Level uint32
 
 // Convert the Level to a string. E.g. PanicLevel becomes "panic".
 func (level Level) String() string {