diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index a30d856..c1b5a18 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -63,8 +63,9 @@ type Config struct {
 }
 
 type LogFile struct {
-	Path string
-	Tag  string
+	Path     string
+	Tag      string
+	Severity syslog.Priority
 }
 
 func init() {
@@ -309,18 +310,22 @@ func decodeLogFiles(f interface{}) ([]LogFile, error) {
 
 		case map[interface{}]interface{}:
 			var (
-				tag  string
-				path string
+				tag      string
+				path     string
+				severity syslog.Priority
 			)
 
 			tag, _ = val["tag"].(string)
 			path, _ = val["path"].(string)
 
+			severity_input, _ := val["severity"].(string)
+			severity, _ = syslog.Severity(severity_input)
+
 			if path == "" {
 				return files, fmt.Errorf("Invalid log file %#v", val)
 			}
 
-			files = append(files, LogFile{Tag: tag, Path: path})
+			files = append(files, LogFile{Tag: tag, Path: path, Severity: severity})
 
 		default:
 			panic(vals)
diff --git a/examples/log_files.yml.example.advanced b/examples/log_files.yml.example.advanced
index 6321ecf..3de66a3 100644
--- a/examples/log_files.yml.example.advanced
+++ b/examples/log_files.yml.example.advanced
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ files:
     tag: site2/access_log
   - path: /var/log/httpd/site2/error_log
     tag: site2/error_log
+    severity: err   # Note: valid severity includes: emerg, alert, crit, err, warn, notice, info, debug
   - /opt/misc/*.log
   - /home/**/*.log
   - /var/log/mysqld.log
diff --git a/remote_syslog.go b/remote_syslog.go
index fb8bc65..fa1ac48 100644
--- a/remote_syslog.go
+++ b/remote_syslog.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func (s *Server) closing() bool {
 }
 
 // Tails a single file
-func (s *Server) tailOne(file, tag string, whence int) {
+func (s *Server) tailOne(file, tag string, file_severity syslog.Priority, whence int) {
 	defer s.registry.Remove(file)
 
 	t, err := follower.New(file, follower.Config{
@@ -111,6 +111,10 @@ func (s *Server) tailOne(file, tag string, whence int) {
 		tag = path.Base(file)
 	}
 
+	if file_severity == 0 {
+		file_severity = s.config.Severity
+	}
+
 	for {
 		select {
 		case line, ok := <-t.Lines():
@@ -136,7 +140,7 @@ func (s *Server) tailOne(file, tag string, whence int) {
 			if !matchExps(l, s.config.ExcludePatterns) {
 
 				s.logger.Write(syslog.Packet{
-					Severity: s.config.Severity,
+					Severity: file_severity,
 					Facility: s.config.Facility,
 					Time:     time.Now(),
 					Hostname: s.logger.ClientHostname,
@@ -181,6 +185,7 @@ func (s *Server) globFiles(firstPass bool) {
 	for _, glob := range s.config.Files {
 
 		tag := glob.Tag
+		severity := glob.Severity
 		files, err := filepath.Glob(utils.ResolvePath(glob.Path))
 
 		if err != nil {
@@ -206,7 +211,7 @@ func (s *Server) globFiles(firstPass bool) {
 				}
 
 				s.registry.Add(file)
-				go s.tailOne(file, tag, whence)
+				go s.tailOne(file, tag, severity, whence)
 			}
 		}
 	}