diff --git a/anki/collection.py b/anki/collection.py
index 4f9a92059..f04ab3eaf 100644
--- a/anki/collection.py
+++ b/anki/collection.py
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@
 # Copyright: Damien Elmes <anki@ichi2.net>
 # License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
+import pprint
+import re
 import time
 import os
 import random
 import stat
 import datetime
 import copy
+import traceback
 
 from anki.lang import _, ngettext
 from anki.utils import ids2str, fieldChecksum, stripHTML, \
@@ -48,9 +51,12 @@ defaultConf = {
 # this is initialized by storage.Collection
 class _Collection(object):
 
+    debugLog = False
+
     def __init__(self, db, server=False):
         self.db = db
         self.path = db._path
+        self._openLog()
         self.log(self.path, anki.version)
         self.server = server
         self._lastSave = time.time()
@@ -773,4 +779,25 @@ and queue = 0""", intTime(), self.usn())
     ##########################################################################
 
     def log(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        runHook("log", args, kwargs)
+        if not self.debugLog:
+            return
+        def customRepr(x):
+            if isinstance(x, basestring):
+                return x
+            return pprint.pformat(x)
+        path, num, fn, y = traceback.extract_stack(
+            limit=2+kwargs.get("stack", 0))[0]
+        buf = u"[%s] %s:%s(): %s" % (intTime(), os.path.basename(path), fn,
+                                     ", ".join([customRepr(x) for x in args]))
+        self._logHnd.write(buf.encode("utf8") + "\n")
+        if os.environ.get("ANKIDEV"):
+            print buf
+
+    def _openLog(self):
+        if not self.debugLog:
+            return
+        lpath = re.sub("\.anki2$", ".log", self.path)
+        self._logHnd = open(lpath, "ab")
+
+    def _closeLog(self):
+        self._logHnd = None
diff --git a/aqt/main.py b/aqt/main.py
index 0951d5cab..a8133f561 100644
--- a/aqt/main.py
+++ b/aqt/main.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 # License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
 import os
-import pprint
 import sys
 import re
 import traceback
@@ -32,6 +31,8 @@ class AnkiQt(QMainWindow):
         self.state = "startup"
         aqt.mw = self
         self.app = app
+        from anki.collection import _Collection
+        _Collection.debugLog = True
         if isWin:
             self._xpstyle = QStyleFactory.create("WindowsXP")
             self.app.setStyle(self._xpstyle)
@@ -268,7 +269,6 @@ To import into a password protected profile, please open the profile before atte
 
     def loadCollection(self):
         self.hideSchemaMsg = True
-        self._openLog()
         try:
             self.col = Collection(self.pm.collectionPath())
         except anki.db.Error:
@@ -865,7 +865,6 @@ Difference to correct time: %s.""") % diffText
     def setupHooks(self):
         addHook("modSchema", self.onSchemaMod)
         addHook("remNotes", self.onRemNotes)
-        addHook("log", self.onLog)
 
     # Log note deletion
     ##########################################################################
@@ -883,29 +882,6 @@ Difference to correct time: %s.""") % diffText
                 f.write(("\t".join([str(id), str(mid)] + fields)).encode("utf8"))
                 f.write("\n")
 
-    # Debug logging
-    ##########################################################################
-
-    def onLog(self, args, kwargs):
-        if not self._logHnd:
-            return
-        def customRepr(x):
-            if isinstance(x, basestring):
-                return x
-            return pprint.pformat(x)
-        path, num, fn, y = traceback.extract_stack(
-            limit=4+kwargs.get("stack", 0))[0]
-        buf = u"[%s] %s:%s(): %s" % (intTime(), os.path.basename(path), fn,
-            ", ".join([customRepr(x) for x in args]))
-        self._logHnd.write(buf.encode("utf8") + "\n")
-        self._logHnd.flush()
-        if os.environ.get("ANKIDEV"):
-            print buf
-
-    def _openLog(self):
-        lpath = re.sub("\.anki2$", ".log", self.pm.collectionPath())
-        self._logHnd = open(lpath, "ab")
-
     # Schema modifications
     ##########################################################################