diff --git a/src/ripple/app/main/Main.cpp b/src/ripple/app/main/Main.cpp
index 764748a0b..e56eb8b5e 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/main/Main.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/app/main/Main.cpp
@@ -465,7 +465,10 @@ int run (int argc, char** argv)
         }
 
         if (vm.count ("debug"))
-            setDebugJournalSink (logs->get("Debug"));
+        {
+            setDebugLogSink (logs->makeSink (
+                "Debug", beast::severities::kTrace));
+        }
 
         auto timeKeeper = make_TimeKeeper(
             logs->journal("TimeKeeper"));
diff --git a/src/ripple/basics/Log.h b/src/ripple/basics/Log.h
index 131ebe72e..683715f50 100644
--- a/src/ripple/basics/Log.h
+++ b/src/ripple/basics/Log.h
@@ -249,18 +249,18 @@ private:
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Debug logging:
 
-/** Returns the debug journal. The journal may drain to a null sink. */
-beast::Journal const&
-debugJournal();
-
-/** Set the sink for the debug journal
-
-    This operation is not thread safe and should only be called
-    from a controlled context, when no other threads are in a
-    call to debugJournal.
-*/
+/** Set the sink for the debug journal. */
 void
-setDebugJournalSink(beast::Journal::Sink& sink);
+setDebugLogSink(
+    std::unique_ptr<beast::Journal::Sink> sink);
+
+/** Returns a debug journal.
+    The journal may drain to a null sink, so its output
+    may never be seen. Never use it for critical
+    information.
+*/
+beast::Journal::Stream
+debugLog();
 
 } // ripple
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/basics/impl/Log.cpp b/src/ripple/basics/impl/Log.cpp
index 13f8b9172..86e9a8652 100644
--- a/src/ripple/basics/impl/Log.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/basics/impl/Log.cpp
@@ -20,10 +20,14 @@
 #include <BeastConfig.h>
 #include <ripple/basics/chrono.h>
 #include <ripple/basics/Log.h>
+#include <ripple/basics/contract.h>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 #include <cassert>
-#include <iostream>
 #include <fstream>
+#include <functional>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <memory>
+#include <mutex>
 
 namespace ripple {
 
@@ -340,21 +344,66 @@ Logs::format (std::string& output, std::string const& message,
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-static std::unique_ptr<beast::Journal> debugJournal_;
 
-beast::Journal const&
-debugJournal()
+class DebugSink
 {
-    if (!debugJournal_)
-        debugJournal_ = std::make_unique<beast::Journal>();
+private:
+    std::reference_wrapper<beast::Journal::Sink> sink_;
+    std::unique_ptr<beast::Journal::Sink> holder_;
+    std::mutex m_;
 
-    return *debugJournal_;
+public:
+    DebugSink ()
+        : sink_ (beast::Journal::getNullSink())
+    {
+    }
+
+    DebugSink (DebugSink const&) = delete;
+    DebugSink& operator=(DebugSink const&) = delete;
+
+    DebugSink(DebugSink&&) = delete;
+    DebugSink& operator=(DebugSink&&) = delete;
+
+    void
+    set(std::unique_ptr<beast::Journal::Sink> sink)
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> _(m_);
+
+        holder_ = std::move(sink);
+
+        if (holder_)
+            sink_ = *holder_;
+        else
+            sink_ = beast::Journal::getNullSink();
+    }
+
+    beast::Journal::Sink&
+    get()
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> _(m_);
+        return sink_.get();
+    }
+};
+
+static
+DebugSink&
+debugSink()
+{
+    static DebugSink _;
+    return _;
 }
 
 void
-setDebugJournalSink(beast::Journal::Sink& sink)
+setDebugLogSink(
+    std::unique_ptr<beast::Journal::Sink> sink)
 {
-    debugJournal_ = std::make_unique<beast::Journal>(sink);
+    debugSink().set(std::move(sink));
+}
+
+beast::Journal::Stream
+debugLog()
+{
+    return { debugSink().get() };
 }
 
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/beast/utility/Journal.h b/src/ripple/beast/utility/Journal.h
index 810daf923..1785315a6 100644
--- a/src/ripple/beast/utility/Journal.h
+++ b/src/ripple/beast/utility/Journal.h
@@ -176,8 +176,13 @@ public:
     public:
         /** Create a stream which produces no output. */
         Stream ()
-        : m_sink (getNullSink())
-        , m_level (severities::kDisabled)
+            : m_sink (getNullSink())
+            , m_level (severities::kDisabled)
+        { }
+
+        Stream (Sink& sink)
+            : m_sink (sink)
+            , m_level (sink.threshold())
         { }
 
         /** Create stream that writes at the given level.
@@ -194,7 +199,7 @@ public:
         /** Construct or copy another Stream. */
         Stream (Stream const& other)
             : Stream (other.m_sink, other.m_level)
-        {  }
+        { }
 
         Stream& operator= (Stream const& other) = delete;
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/core/SociDB.h b/src/ripple/core/SociDB.h
index 9ab966737..b6871af2f 100644
--- a/src/ripple/core/SociDB.h
+++ b/src/ripple/core/SociDB.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ T rangeCheckedCast (C c)
          std::numeric_limits<C>::is_signed &&
          c < std::numeric_limits<T>::lowest ()))
     {
-        JLOG (debugJournal().error()) << "rangeCheckedCast domain error:"
+        JLOG (debugLog()) << "rangeCheckedCast domain error:"
           << " value = " << c
           << " min = " << std::numeric_limits<T>::lowest ()
           << " max: " << std::numeric_limits<T>::max ();
diff --git a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STAmount.cpp b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STAmount.cpp
index 906075dd9..40914ffd9 100644
--- a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STAmount.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STAmount.cpp
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ amountFromJsonNoThrow (STAmount& result, Json::Value const& jvSource)
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e)
     {
-        JLOG (debugJournal().debug()) <<
+        JLOG (debugLog()) <<
             "amountFromJsonNoThrow: caught: " << e.what ();
     }
     return false;
diff --git a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STArray.cpp b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STArray.cpp
index 1cf8df903..09e6a5342 100644
--- a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STArray.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STArray.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ STArray::STArray (SerialIter& sit, SField const& f)
 
         if ((type == STI_OBJECT) && (field == 1))
         {
-            JLOG (debugJournal().warn()) <<
+            JLOG (debugLog()) <<
                 "Encountered array with end of object marker";
             Throw<std::runtime_error> ("Illegal terminator in array");
         }
@@ -85,14 +85,14 @@ STArray::STArray (SerialIter& sit, SField const& f)
 
         if (fn.isInvalid ())
         {
-            JLOG (debugJournal().trace()) <<
+            JLOG (debugLog()) <<
                 "Unknown field: " << type << "/" << field;
             Throw<std::runtime_error> ("Unknown field");
         }
 
         if (fn.fieldType != STI_OBJECT)
         {
-            JLOG (debugJournal().trace()) <<
+            JLOG (debugLog()) <<
                 "Array contains non-object";
             Throw<std::runtime_error> ("Non-object in array");
         }
diff --git a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STInteger.cpp b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STInteger.cpp
index 19aea4331..122e07414 100644
--- a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STInteger.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STInteger.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ STUInt8::getText () const
         if (transResultInfo (static_cast<TER> (value_), token, human))
             return human;
 
-        JLOG (debugJournal().warn())
+        JLOG (debugLog())
             << "Unknown result code in metadata: " << value_;
     }
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ STUInt8::getJson (int) const
         if (transResultInfo (static_cast<TER> (value_), token, human))
             return token;
 
-        JLOG (debugJournal().warn())
+        JLOG (debugLog())
             << "Unknown result code in metadata: " << value_;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STLedgerEntry.cpp b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STLedgerEntry.cpp
index d4c618204..a1fe627f8 100644
--- a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STLedgerEntry.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STLedgerEntry.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ void STLedgerEntry::setSLEType ()
     type_ = mFormat->getType ();
     if (!setType (mFormat->elements))
     {
-        if (auto j = debugJournal().warn())
+        if (auto j = debugLog())
         {
             j << "Ledger entry not valid for type " << mFormat->getName ();
             j << "Object: " << getJson (0);
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ bool STLedgerEntry::thread (uint256 const& txID, std::uint32_t ledgerSeq,
 {
     uint256 oldPrevTxID = getFieldH256 (sfPreviousTxnID);
 
-    JLOG (debugJournal().trace())
+    JLOG (debugLog())
         << "Thread Tx:" << txID << " prev:" << oldPrevTxID;
 
     if (oldPrevTxID == txID)
diff --git a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STObject.cpp b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STObject.cpp
index d17a641a1..7a6282174 100644
--- a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STObject.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STObject.cpp
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ bool STObject::setType (const SOTemplate& type)
         {
             if ((e->flags == SOE_DEFAULT) && iter->get().isDefault())
             {
-                JLOG (debugJournal().warn())
+                JLOG (debugLog())
                     << "setType(" << getFName().getName()
                     << "): explicit default " << e->e_field.fieldName;
                 valid = false;
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ bool STObject::setType (const SOTemplate& type)
         {
             if (e->flags == SOE_REQUIRED)
             {
-                JLOG (debugJournal().warn())
+                JLOG (debugLog())
                     << "setType(" << getFName().getName()
                     << "): missing " << e->e_field.fieldName;
                 valid = false;
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ bool STObject::setType (const SOTemplate& type)
         // Anything left over in the object must be discardable
         if (! e->getFName().isDiscardable())
         {
-            JLOG (debugJournal().warn())
+            JLOG (debugLog())
                 << "setType(" << getFName().getName()
                 << "): non-discardable leftover " << e->getFName().getName ();
             valid = false;
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ bool STObject::set (SerialIter& sit, int depth)
 
         if ((type == STI_ARRAY) && (field == 1))
         {
-            JLOG (debugJournal().warn())
+            JLOG (debugLog())
                 << "Encountered object with end of array marker";
             Throw<std::runtime_error> ("Illegal terminator in object");
         }
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ bool STObject::set (SerialIter& sit, int depth)
 
             if (fn.isInvalid ())
             {
-                JLOG (debugJournal().warn())
+                JLOG (debugLog())
                     << "Unknown field: field_type=" << type
                     << ", field_name=" << field;
                 Throw<std::runtime_error> ("Unknown field");
diff --git a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STPathSet.cpp b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STPathSet.cpp
index 126fb04f6..99e5962e3 100644
--- a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STPathSet.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STPathSet.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ STPathSet::STPathSet (SerialIter& sit, SField const& name)
         {
             if (path.empty ())
             {
-                JLOG (debugJournal().info())
+                JLOG (debugLog())
                     << "Empty path in pathset";
                 Throw<std::runtime_error> ("empty path");
             }
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ STPathSet::STPathSet (SerialIter& sit, SField const& name)
         }
         else if (iType & ~STPathElement::typeAll)
         {
-            JLOG (debugJournal().info())
+            JLOG (debugLog())
                 << "Bad path element " << iType << " in pathset";
             Throw<std::runtime_error> ("bad path element");
         }
diff --git a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STValidation.cpp b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STValidation.cpp
index 24654c967..946792d6f 100644
--- a/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STValidation.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/protocol/impl/STValidation.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ STValidation::STValidation (SerialIter& sit, bool checkSignature)
 
     if  (checkSignature && !isValid ())
     {
-        JLOG (debugJournal().trace())
+        JLOG (debugLog())
             << "Invalid validation" << getJson (0);
         Throw<std::runtime_error> ("Invalid validation");
     }
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ bool STValidation::isValid (uint256 const& signingHash) const
     }
     catch (std::exception const&)
     {
-        JLOG (debugJournal().info())
+        JLOG (debugLog())
             << "Exception validating validation";
         return false;
     }
diff --git a/src/ripple/websocket/AutoSocket.h b/src/ripple/websocket/AutoSocket.h
index 3317fdbe0..d80af11e4 100644
--- a/src/ripple/websocket/AutoSocket.h
+++ b/src/ripple/websocket/AutoSocket.h
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ public:
             bool plainOnly)
         : mSecure (secureOnly)
         , mBuffer ((plainOnly || secureOnly) ? 0 : 4)
-        , j_ (ripple::debugJournal())
     {
         mSocket = std::make_unique<ssl_socket> (s, c);
     }