diff --git a/bigchaindb/config_utils.py b/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
index 87a25d3f..5a72a7d6 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
@@ -220,11 +220,14 @@ def write_config(config, filename=None):
         json.dump(config, f, indent=4)
 
 
+def is_configured():
+    return bool(bigchaindb.config.get('CONFIGURED'))
+
+
 def autoconfigure(filename=None, config=None, force=False):
     """Run ``file_config`` and ``env_config`` if the module has not
     been initialized."""
-
-    if not force and bigchaindb.config.get('CONFIGURED'):
+    if not force and is_configured():
         logger.debug('System already configured, skipping autoconfiguration')
         return
 
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_utils.py b/tests/commands/test_utils.py
index aadd24b5..6879e0eb 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_utils.py
@@ -1,9 +1,50 @@
 import argparse
 import pytest
 
+from argparse import ArgumentTypeError, Namespace
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def reset_bigchaindb_config(monkeypatch):
+    import bigchaindb
+    monkeypatch.setattr('bigchaindb.config', bigchaindb._config)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.usefixtures('ignore_local_config_file', 'reset_bigchaindb_config')
+def test_configure_bigchaindb_configures_bigchaindb():
+    from bigchaindb.commands.utils import configure_bigchaindb
+    from bigchaindb.config_utils import is_configured
+    assert not is_configured()
+
+    @configure_bigchaindb
+    def test_configure(args):
+        assert is_configured()
+
+    args = Namespace(config=None)
+    test_configure(args)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.usefixtures('ignore_local_config_file',
+                         'reset_bigchaindb_config',
+                         'reset_logging_config')
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('log_level', ('DEBUG', 'INFO', 'WARNING', 'ERROR', 'CRITICAL'))
+def test_configure_bigchaindb_configures_logging(log_level):
+    import logging
+    from logging import getLogger
+    from bigchaindb.commands.utils import configure_bigchaindb
+    root_logger = getLogger()
+    assert root_logger.level == 0
+
+    @configure_bigchaindb
+    def test_configure_logger(args):
+        root_logger = getLogger()
+        assert root_logger.level == getattr(logging, log_level)
+
+    args = Namespace(config=None, log_level=log_level)
+    test_configure_logger(args)
+
+
 def test_start_raises_if_command_not_implemented():
     from bigchaindb.commands import utils
     from bigchaindb.commands.bigchain import create_parser
@@ -51,13 +92,13 @@ def test_mongodb_host_type():
     from bigchaindb.commands.utils import mongodb_host
 
     # bad port provided
-    with pytest.raises(argparse.ArgumentTypeError):
+    with pytest.raises(ArgumentTypeError):
         mongodb_host('localhost:11111111111')
 
     # no port information provided
-    with pytest.raises(argparse.ArgumentTypeError):
+    with pytest.raises(ArgumentTypeError):
         mongodb_host('localhost')
 
     # bad host provided
-    with pytest.raises(argparse.ArgumentTypeError):
+    with pytest.raises(ArgumentTypeError):
         mongodb_host(':27017')
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index e943d0a9..210d526e 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import random
 
 import pytest
 
+from logging import getLogger
+from logging.config import dictConfig
 from bigchaindb.common import crypto
 
 TEST_DB_NAME = 'bigchain_test'
@@ -203,6 +205,15 @@ def ignore_local_config_file(monkeypatch):
                         mock_file_config)
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def reset_logging_config():
+    # root_logger_level = getLogger().level
+    root_logger_level = 'DEBUG'
+    dictConfig({'version': 1, 'root': {'level': 'NOTSET'}})
+    yield
+    getLogger().setLevel(root_logger_level)
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def user_sk():
     return USER_PRIVATE_KEY