diff --git a/simlib/mixnet-sims/Cargo.toml b/simlib/mixnet-sims/Cargo.toml
index b81011a..37dd82b 100644
--- a/simlib/mixnet-sims/Cargo.toml
+++ b/simlib/mixnet-sims/Cargo.toml
@@ -24,3 +24,4 @@ rand_chacha = "0.3"
 multiaddr = "0.18"
 sha2 = "0.10"
 uuid = { version = "1", features = ["fast-rng", "v4"] }
+tracing-appender = "0.2"
diff --git a/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/log.rs b/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/log.rs
index 053b81f..4c75ceb 100644
--- a/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/log.rs
+++ b/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/log.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ use nomos_tracing::{
     metrics::otlp::{create_otlp_metrics_layer, OtlpMetricsConfig},
 };
 use std::{path::PathBuf, str::FromStr};
+use tracing::{level_filters::LevelFilter, Level};
+use tracing_appender::non_blocking::WorkerGuard;
 use tracing_subscriber::{layer::SubscriberExt, util::SubscriberInitExt};
 
 #[derive(Default, Copy, Clone)]
@@ -44,10 +46,14 @@ impl FromStr for LogOutput {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn config_tracing(_fmt: LogFormat, log_to: &LogOutput, with_metrics: bool) {
+pub fn config_tracing(
+    _fmt: LogFormat,
+    log_to: &LogOutput,
+    with_metrics: bool,
+) -> Option<WorkerGuard> {
     let mut layers: Vec<Box<dyn tracing_subscriber::Layer<_> + Send + Sync>> = vec![];
 
-    let (log_layer, _) = match log_to {
+    let (log_layer, guard) = match log_to {
         LogOutput::StdOut => create_writer_layer(std::io::stdout()),
         LogOutput::StdErr => create_writer_layer(std::io::stderr()),
         LogOutput::File(path) => create_file_layer(nomos_tracing::logging::local::FileConfig {
@@ -68,5 +74,11 @@ pub fn config_tracing(_fmt: LogFormat, log_to: &LogOutput, with_metrics: bool) {
         .unwrap();
         layers.push(Box::new(metrics_layer));
     }
-    tracing_subscriber::registry().with(layers).init();
+
+    tracing_subscriber::registry()
+        .with(LevelFilter::from(Level::DEBUG))
+        .with(layers)
+        .init();
+
+    Some(guard)
 }
diff --git a/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/main.rs b/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/main.rs
index f2a77e1..c1f37cc 100644
--- a/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/main.rs
+++ b/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/main.rs
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ fn load_json_from_file<T: DeserializeOwned>(path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<T> {
 
 fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let app: SimulationApp = SimulationApp::parse();
-    log::config_tracing(app.log_format, &app.log_to, app.with_metrics);
+    let maybe_guard = log::config_tracing(app.log_format, &app.log_to, app.with_metrics);
 
     if let Err(e) = app.run() {
         tracing::error!("error: {}", e);
diff --git a/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/node/mix/mod.rs b/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/node/mix/mod.rs
index 795462a..e644e1a 100644
--- a/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/node/mix/mod.rs
+++ b/simlib/mixnet-sims/src/node/mix/mod.rs
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ impl Node for MixNode {
                     self.persistent_sender.send(msg).unwrap();
                 }
                 MixOutgoingMessage::FullyUnwrapped(_) => {
-                    println!("fully unwrapped message: Node:{}", self.id);
+                    tracing::info!("fully unwrapped message: Node:{}", self.id);
                     self.state.num_messages_broadcasted += 1;
                     //TODO: create a tracing event
                 }