diff --git a/tests/logging/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/logging/CMakeLists.txt
index dee6ddf..0f14079 100644
--- a/tests/logging/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/logging/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -46,3 +46,18 @@ set_target_properties(logging_streams
 add_test(NAME logging_streams
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
         COMMAND python ${GEMSTONE_TEST_DIR}/logging/test_logging.py check_stream)
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------- #
+# CTEST 4
+# test compile time log level switch
+
+add_executable(logging_level
+        ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/sys/log.c
+        level.c)
+set_target_properties(logging_level
+        PROPERTIES
+        OUTPUT_NAME "level"
+        RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${GEMSTONE_BINARY_DIR}/tests/logging)
+add_test(NAME logging_level
+        WORKING_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
+        COMMAND python ${GEMSTONE_TEST_DIR}/logging/test_logging.py check_level)
diff --git a/tests/logging/level.c b/tests/logging/level.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a4f055
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/logging/level.c
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+//
+// Created by servostar on 5/2/24.
+//
+
+#include "sys/log.h"
+
+#define LOG_LEVEL LOG_LEVEL_WARNING
+
+int main(void) {
+    log_init();
+
+    DEBUG("logging some debug...");
+    INFO("logging some info...");
+    WARN("logging some warning...");
+    ERROR("logging some error...");
+
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/tests/logging/test_logging.py b/tests/logging/test_logging.py
index 0d32d48..246a9d5 100644
--- a/tests/logging/test_logging.py
+++ b/tests/logging/test_logging.py
@@ -28,6 +28,27 @@ def run_check_output():
     assert "logging some error..." in output
 
 
+def run_check_level():
+    info("started check level...")
+
+    p = subprocess.run(BIN_DIR + "level", capture_output=True, text=True)
+
+    info("checking exit code...")
+
+    # check exit code
+    assert p.returncode == 0
+
+    output = p.stderr
+
+    # check if logs appear in default log output (stderr)
+    info("checking stderr...")
+
+    assert "logging some debug..." not in output
+    assert "logging some info..." not in output
+    assert "logging some warning..." in output
+    assert "logging some error..." in output
+
+
 def run_check_panic():
     info("started check panic...")
 
@@ -96,6 +117,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             run_check_panic()
         case "check_stream":
             run_check_stream()
+        case "check_level":
+            run_check_level()
         case _:
             error(f"unknown target: {target}")
             exit(1)