diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index f97a8f39c755..2acd249e672d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ def ge(self, level):
         return self.vald[self.level] >= self.vald[level]
 
 
-def _wrap(fmt, func, level='INFO', always=True):
+def _wrap(fmt, func, level='DEBUG', always=True):
     """
     return a callable function that wraps func and reports its
     output through logger
@@ -1131,7 +1131,7 @@ def rc_params_from_file(fname, fail_on_error=False, use_default_template=True):
 Please do not ask for support with these customizations active.
 *****************************************************************
 """, '\n'.join(config['text.latex.preamble']))
-    _log.info('loaded rc file %s', fname)
+    _log.debug('loaded rc file %s', fname)
 
     return config
 
@@ -1839,7 +1839,7 @@ def inner(ax, *args, **kwargs):
 
     return param
 
-_log.info('matplotlib version %s', __version__)
-_log.info('interactive is %s', is_interactive())
-_log.info('platform is %s', sys.platform)
+_log.debug('matplotlib version %s', __version__)
+_log.debug('interactive is %s', is_interactive())
+_log.debug('platform is %s', sys.platform)
 _log.debug('loaded modules: %s', list(sys.modules))