diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 59adf696a7..d8aba9ba68 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -833,10 +833,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
  "clap 4.0.32",
- "env_logger",
  "futures",
  "hyper",
- "log",
  "notify",
  "postgres",
  "regex",
@@ -845,6 +843,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "tar",
  "tokio",
  "tokio-postgres",
+ "tracing",
+ "tracing-subscriber",
  "url",
  "workspace_hack",
 ]
@@ -1954,7 +1954,6 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "abb12e687cfb44aa40f41fc3978ef76448f9b6038cad6aef4259d3c095a2382e"
 dependencies = [
  "cfg-if",
- "serde",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -4565,6 +4564,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "tower",
  "tracing",
  "tracing-core",
+ "tracing-subscriber",
  "url",
 ]
 
diff --git a/compute_tools/Cargo.toml b/compute_tools/Cargo.toml
index 1e0aee81d7..4536604bdf 100644
--- a/compute_tools/Cargo.toml
+++ b/compute_tools/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,10 +8,8 @@ license.workspace = true
 anyhow.workspace = true
 chrono.workspace = true
 clap.workspace = true
-env_logger.workspace = true
 futures.workspace = true
 hyper = { workspace = true, features = ["full"] }
-log = { workspace = true, features = ["std", "serde"] }
 notify.workspace = true
 postgres.workspace = true
 regex.workspace = true
@@ -20,6 +18,8 @@ serde_json.workspace = true
 tar.workspace = true
 tokio = { workspace = true, features = ["rt", "rt-multi-thread"] }
 tokio-postgres.workspace = true
+tracing.workspace = true
+tracing-subscriber.workspace = true
 url.workspace = true
 
 workspace_hack.workspace = true
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/bin/compute_ctl.rs b/compute_tools/src/bin/compute_ctl.rs
index 307300cfd8..e5ab8eb153 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/bin/compute_ctl.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/bin/compute_ctl.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ use std::{thread, time::Duration};
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use chrono::Utc;
 use clap::Arg;
-use log::{error, info};
+use tracing::{error, info};
 
 use compute_tools::compute::{ComputeMetrics, ComputeNode, ComputeState, ComputeStatus};
 use compute_tools::http::api::launch_http_server;
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ use compute_tools::spec::*;
 use url::Url;
 
 fn main() -> Result<()> {
-    // TODO: re-use `utils::logging` later
     init_logger(DEFAULT_LOG_LEVEL)?;
 
     let matches = cli().get_matches();
@@ -122,29 +121,45 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
     // Also spawn the thread responsible for handling the VM informant -- if it's present
     let _vm_informant_handle = spawn_vm_informant_if_present().expect("cannot launch VM informant");
 
-    // Run compute (Postgres) and hang waiting on it.
-    match compute.prepare_and_run() {
-        Ok(ec) => {
-            let code = ec.code().unwrap_or(1);
-            info!("Postgres exited with code {}, shutting down", code);
-            exit(code)
-        }
-        Err(error) => {
-            error!("could not start the compute node: {:?}", error);
-
+    // Start Postgres
+    let mut delay_exit = false;
+    let mut exit_code = None;
+    let pg = match compute.start_compute() {
+        Ok(pg) => Some(pg),
+        Err(err) => {
+            error!("could not start the compute node: {:?}", err);
             let mut state = compute.state.write().unwrap();
-            state.error = Some(format!("{:?}", error));
+            state.error = Some(format!("{:?}", err));
             state.status = ComputeStatus::Failed;
             drop(state);
-
-            // Keep serving HTTP requests, so the cloud control plane was able to
-            // get the actual error.
-            info!("giving control plane 30s to collect the error before shutdown");
-            thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(30));
-            info!("shutting down");
-            Err(error)
+            delay_exit = true;
+            None
         }
+    };
+
+    // Wait for the child Postgres process forever. In this state Ctrl+C will
+    // propagate to Postgres and it will be shut down as well.
+    if let Some(mut pg) = pg {
+        let ecode = pg
+            .wait()
+            .expect("failed to start waiting on Postgres process");
+        info!("Postgres exited with code {}, shutting down", ecode);
+        exit_code = ecode.code()
     }
+
+    if let Err(err) = compute.check_for_core_dumps() {
+        error!("error while checking for core dumps: {err:?}");
+    }
+
+    // If launch failed, keep serving HTTP requests for a while, so the cloud
+    // control plane can get the actual error.
+    if delay_exit {
+        info!("giving control plane 30s to collect the error before shutdown");
+        thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(30));
+        info!("shutting down");
+    }
+
+    exit(exit_code.unwrap_or(1))
 }
 
 fn cli() -> clap::Command {
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/checker.rs b/compute_tools/src/checker.rs
index ee1605c814..b8413de516 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/checker.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/checker.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
-use log::error;
 use postgres::Client;
 use tokio_postgres::NoTls;
+use tracing::{error, instrument};
 
 use crate::compute::ComputeNode;
 
+#[instrument(skip_all)]
 pub fn create_writability_check_data(client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
     let query = "
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS health_check (
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ pub fn create_writability_check_data(client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[instrument(skip_all)]
 pub async fn check_writability(compute: &ComputeNode) -> Result<()> {
     let (client, connection) = tokio_postgres::connect(compute.connstr.as_str(), NoTls).await?;
     if client.is_closed() {
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/compute.rs b/compute_tools/src/compute.rs
index d652084e00..e229bb1cc2 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/compute.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/compute.rs
@@ -17,15 +17,15 @@
 use std::fs;
 use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
 use std::path::Path;
-use std::process::{Command, ExitStatus, Stdio};
+use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
 use std::sync::RwLock;
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-use log::{error, info, warn};
 use postgres::{Client, NoTls};
 use serde::{Serialize, Serializer};
+use tracing::{info, instrument, warn};
 
 use crate::checker::create_writability_check_data;
 use crate::config;
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ impl ComputeNode {
 
     // Get basebackup from the libpq connection to pageserver using `connstr` and
     // unarchive it to `pgdata` directory overriding all its previous content.
+    #[instrument(skip(self))]
     fn get_basebackup(&self, lsn: &str) -> Result<()> {
         let start_time = Utc::now();
 
@@ -154,6 +155,7 @@ impl ComputeNode {
 
     // Run `postgres` in a special mode with `--sync-safekeepers` argument
     // and return the reported LSN back to the caller.
+    #[instrument(skip(self))]
     fn sync_safekeepers(&self) -> Result<String> {
         let start_time = Utc::now();
 
@@ -196,6 +198,7 @@ impl ComputeNode {
 
     /// Do all the preparations like PGDATA directory creation, configuration,
     /// safekeepers sync, basebackup, etc.
+    #[instrument(skip(self))]
     pub fn prepare_pgdata(&self) -> Result<()> {
         let spec = &self.spec;
         let pgdata_path = Path::new(&self.pgdata);
@@ -229,9 +232,8 @@ impl ComputeNode {
 
     /// Start Postgres as a child process and manage DBs/roles.
     /// After that this will hang waiting on the postmaster process to exit.
-    pub fn run(&self) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
-        let start_time = Utc::now();
-
+    #[instrument(skip(self))]
+    pub fn start_postgres(&self) -> Result<std::process::Child> {
         let pgdata_path = Path::new(&self.pgdata);
 
         // Run postgres as a child process.
@@ -242,6 +244,11 @@ impl ComputeNode {
 
         wait_for_postgres(&mut pg, pgdata_path)?;
 
+        Ok(pg)
+    }
+
+    #[instrument(skip(self))]
+    pub fn apply_config(&self) -> Result<()> {
         // If connection fails,
         // it may be the old node with `zenith_admin` superuser.
         //
@@ -279,8 +286,34 @@ impl ComputeNode {
 
         // 'Close' connection
         drop(client);
-        let startup_end_time = Utc::now();
 
+        info!(
+            "finished configuration of compute for project {}",
+            self.spec.cluster.cluster_id
+        );
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    #[instrument(skip(self))]
+    pub fn start_compute(&self) -> Result<std::process::Child> {
+        info!(
+            "starting compute for project {}, operation {}, tenant {}, timeline {}",
+            self.spec.cluster.cluster_id,
+            self.spec.operation_uuid.as_ref().unwrap(),
+            self.tenant,
+            self.timeline,
+        );
+
+        self.prepare_pgdata()?;
+
+        let start_time = Utc::now();
+
+        let pg = self.start_postgres()?;
+
+        self.apply_config()?;
+
+        let startup_end_time = Utc::now();
         self.metrics.config_ms.store(
             startup_end_time
                 .signed_duration_since(start_time)
@@ -300,35 +333,7 @@ impl ComputeNode {
 
         self.set_status(ComputeStatus::Running);
 
-        info!(
-            "finished configuration of compute for project {}",
-            self.spec.cluster.cluster_id
-        );
-
-        // Wait for child Postgres process basically forever. In this state Ctrl+C
-        // will propagate to Postgres and it will be shut down as well.
-        let ecode = pg
-            .wait()
-            .expect("failed to start waiting on Postgres process");
-
-        if let Err(err) = self.check_for_core_dumps() {
-            error!("error while checking for core dumps: {err:?}");
-        }
-
-        Ok(ecode)
-    }
-
-    pub fn prepare_and_run(&self) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
-        info!(
-            "starting compute for project {}, operation {}, tenant {}, timeline {}",
-            self.spec.cluster.cluster_id,
-            self.spec.operation_uuid.as_ref().unwrap(),
-            self.tenant,
-            self.timeline,
-        );
-
-        self.prepare_pgdata()?;
-        self.run()
+        Ok(pg)
     }
 
     // Look for core dumps and collect backtraces.
@@ -341,7 +346,7 @@ impl ComputeNode {
     //
     // Use that as a default location and pattern, except macos where core dumps are written
     // to /cores/ directory by default.
-    fn check_for_core_dumps(&self) -> Result<()> {
+    pub fn check_for_core_dumps(&self) -> Result<()> {
         let core_dump_dir = match std::env::consts::OS {
             "macos" => Path::new("/cores/"),
             _ => Path::new(&self.pgdata),
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/http/api.rs b/compute_tools/src/http/api.rs
index 44f83e5003..f2a49f332c 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/http/api.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/http/api.rs
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ use std::thread;
 use anyhow::Result;
 use hyper::service::{make_service_fn, service_fn};
 use hyper::{Body, Method, Request, Response, Server, StatusCode};
-use log::{error, info};
 use serde_json;
+use tracing::{error, info};
 
 use crate::compute::ComputeNode;
 
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/informant.rs b/compute_tools/src/informant.rs
index 09bd5e3138..8a6e3ab43a 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/informant.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/informant.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-use log::{info, warn};
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::process;
 use std::thread;
 use std::time::Duration;
+use tracing::{info, warn};
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/logger.rs b/compute_tools/src/logger.rs
index dde0a950f8..57e5496e86 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/logger.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/logger.rs
@@ -1,42 +1,20 @@
-use std::io::Write;
-
 use anyhow::Result;
-use chrono::Utc;
-use env_logger::{Builder, Env};
-
-macro_rules! info_println {
-    ($($tts:tt)*) => {
-        if log_enabled!(Level::Info) {
-            println!($($tts)*);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-macro_rules! info_print {
-    ($($tts:tt)*) => {
-        if log_enabled!(Level::Info) {
-            print!($($tts)*);
-        }
-    }
-}
+use tracing_subscriber::layer::SubscriberExt;
+use tracing_subscriber::prelude::*;
 
 /// Initialize `env_logger` using either `default_level` or
 /// `RUST_LOG` environment variable as default log level.
 pub fn init_logger(default_level: &str) -> Result<()> {
-    let env = Env::default().filter_or("RUST_LOG", default_level);
+    let env_filter = tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter::try_from_default_env()
+        .unwrap_or_else(|_| tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter::new(default_level));
 
-    Builder::from_env(env)
-        .format(|buf, record| {
-            let thread_handle = std::thread::current();
-            writeln!(
-                buf,
-                "{} [{}] {}: {}",
-                Utc::now().format("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S%.3f %Z"),
-                thread_handle.name().unwrap_or("main"),
-                record.level(),
-                record.args()
-            )
-        })
+    let fmt_layer = tracing_subscriber::fmt::layer()
+        .with_target(false)
+        .with_writer(std::io::stderr);
+
+    tracing_subscriber::registry()
+        .with(env_filter)
+        .with(fmt_layer)
         .init();
 
     Ok(())
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/monitor.rs b/compute_tools/src/monitor.rs
index c871422e78..7c9878ffcf 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/monitor.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/monitor.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ use std::{thread, time};
 
 use anyhow::Result;
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-use log::{debug, info};
 use postgres::{Client, NoTls};
+use tracing::{debug, info};
 
 use crate::compute::ComputeNode;
 
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/pg_helpers.rs b/compute_tools/src/pg_helpers.rs
index ff422f1cf5..921289d7c2 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/pg_helpers.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/pg_helpers.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ use anyhow::{bail, Result};
 use notify::{RecursiveMode, Watcher};
 use postgres::{Client, Transaction};
 use serde::Deserialize;
+use tracing::{debug, instrument};
 
 const POSTGRES_WAIT_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_millis(60 * 1000); // milliseconds
 
@@ -229,6 +230,7 @@ pub fn get_existing_dbs(client: &mut Client) -> Result<Vec<Database>> {
 /// Wait for Postgres to become ready to accept connections. It's ready to
 /// accept connections when the state-field in `pgdata/postmaster.pid` says
 /// 'ready'.
+#[instrument(skip(pg))]
 pub fn wait_for_postgres(pg: &mut Child, pgdata: &Path) -> Result<()> {
     let pid_path = pgdata.join("postmaster.pid");
 
@@ -287,18 +289,18 @@ pub fn wait_for_postgres(pg: &mut Child, pgdata: &Path) -> Result<()> {
         }
 
         let res = rx.recv_timeout(Duration::from_millis(100));
-        log::debug!("woken up by notify: {res:?}");
+        debug!("woken up by notify: {res:?}");
         // If there are multiple events in the channel already, we only need to be
         // check once. Swallow the extra events before we go ahead to check the
         // pid file.
         while let Ok(res) = rx.try_recv() {
-            log::debug!("swallowing extra event: {res:?}");
+            debug!("swallowing extra event: {res:?}");
         }
 
         // Check that we can open pid file first.
         if let Ok(file) = File::open(&pid_path) {
             if !postmaster_pid_seen {
-                log::debug!("postmaster.pid appeared");
+                debug!("postmaster.pid appeared");
                 watcher
                     .unwatch(pgdata)
                     .expect("Failed to remove pgdata dir watch");
@@ -314,7 +316,7 @@ pub fn wait_for_postgres(pg: &mut Child, pgdata: &Path) -> Result<()> {
             // Pid file could be there and we could read it, but it could be empty, for example.
             if let Some(Ok(line)) = last_line {
                 let status = line.trim();
-                log::debug!("last line of postmaster.pid: {status:?}");
+                debug!("last line of postmaster.pid: {status:?}");
 
                 // Now Postgres is ready to accept connections
                 if status == "ready" {
@@ -330,7 +332,7 @@ pub fn wait_for_postgres(pg: &mut Child, pgdata: &Path) -> Result<()> {
         }
     }
 
-    log::info!("PostgreSQL is now running, continuing to configure it");
+    tracing::info!("PostgreSQL is now running, continuing to configure it");
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/compute_tools/src/spec.rs b/compute_tools/src/spec.rs
index 81e01fe555..40c8366bf4 100644
--- a/compute_tools/src/spec.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/spec.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::str::FromStr;
-use std::time::Instant;
 
 use anyhow::Result;
-use log::{info, log_enabled, warn, Level};
 use postgres::config::Config;
 use postgres::{Client, NoTls};
 use serde::Deserialize;
+use tracing::{info, info_span, instrument, span_enabled, warn, Level};
 
 use crate::compute::ComputeNode;
 use crate::config;
@@ -80,23 +79,25 @@ pub fn update_pg_hba(pgdata_path: &Path) -> Result<()> {
 
 /// Given a cluster spec json and open transaction it handles roles creation,
 /// deletion and update.
+#[instrument(skip_all)]
 pub fn handle_roles(spec: &ComputeSpec, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
     let mut xact = client.transaction()?;
     let existing_roles: Vec<Role> = get_existing_roles(&mut xact)?;
 
     // Print a list of existing Postgres roles (only in debug mode)
-    info!("postgres roles:");
-    for r in &existing_roles {
-        info_println!(
-            "{} - {}:{}",
-            " ".repeat(27 + 5),
-            r.name,
-            if r.encrypted_password.is_some() {
-                "[FILTERED]"
-            } else {
-                "(null)"
-            }
-        );
+    if span_enabled!(Level::INFO) {
+        info!("postgres roles:");
+        for r in &existing_roles {
+            info!(
+                "    - {}:{}",
+                r.name,
+                if r.encrypted_password.is_some() {
+                    "[FILTERED]"
+                } else {
+                    "(null)"
+                }
+            );
+        }
     }
 
     // Process delta operations first
@@ -137,58 +138,68 @@ pub fn handle_roles(spec: &ComputeSpec, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
     info!("cluster spec roles:");
     for role in &spec.cluster.roles {
         let name = &role.name;
-
-        info_print!(
-            "{} - {}:{}",
-            " ".repeat(27 + 5),
-            name,
-            if role.encrypted_password.is_some() {
-                "[FILTERED]"
-            } else {
-                "(null)"
-            }
-        );
-
         // XXX: with a limited number of roles it is fine, but consider making it a HashMap
         let pg_role = existing_roles.iter().find(|r| r.name == *name);
 
-        if let Some(r) = pg_role {
-            let mut update_role = false;
-
+        enum RoleAction {
+            None,
+            Update,
+            Create,
+        }
+        let action = if let Some(r) = pg_role {
             if (r.encrypted_password.is_none() && role.encrypted_password.is_some())
                 || (r.encrypted_password.is_some() && role.encrypted_password.is_none())
             {
-                update_role = true;
+                RoleAction::Update
             } else if let Some(pg_pwd) = &r.encrypted_password {
                 // Check whether password changed or not (trim 'md5:' prefix first)
-                update_role = pg_pwd[3..] != *role.encrypted_password.as_ref().unwrap();
+                if pg_pwd[3..] != *role.encrypted_password.as_ref().unwrap() {
+                    RoleAction::Update
+                } else {
+                    RoleAction::None
+                }
+            } else {
+                RoleAction::None
             }
+        } else {
+            RoleAction::Create
+        };
 
-            if update_role {
+        match action {
+            RoleAction::None => {}
+            RoleAction::Update => {
                 let mut query: String = format!("ALTER ROLE {} ", name.pg_quote());
-                info_print!(" -> update");
-
                 query.push_str(&role.to_pg_options());
                 xact.execute(query.as_str(), &[])?;
             }
-        } else {
-            info!("role name: '{}'", &name);
-            let mut query: String = format!("CREATE ROLE {} ", name.pg_quote());
-            info!("role create query: '{}'", &query);
-            info_print!(" -> create");
+            RoleAction::Create => {
+                let mut query: String = format!("CREATE ROLE {} ", name.pg_quote());
+                info!("role create query: '{}'", &query);
+                query.push_str(&role.to_pg_options());
+                xact.execute(query.as_str(), &[])?;
 
-            query.push_str(&role.to_pg_options());
-            xact.execute(query.as_str(), &[])?;
-
-            let grant_query = format!(
-                "GRANT pg_read_all_data, pg_write_all_data TO {}",
-                name.pg_quote()
-            );
-            xact.execute(grant_query.as_str(), &[])?;
-            info!("role grant query: '{}'", &grant_query);
+                let grant_query = format!(
+                    "GRANT pg_read_all_data, pg_write_all_data TO {}",
+                    name.pg_quote()
+                );
+                xact.execute(grant_query.as_str(), &[])?;
+                info!("role grant query: '{}'", &grant_query);
+            }
         }
 
-        info_print!("\n");
+        if span_enabled!(Level::INFO) {
+            let pwd = if role.encrypted_password.is_some() {
+                "[FILTERED]"
+            } else {
+                "(null)"
+            };
+            let action_str = match action {
+                RoleAction::None => "",
+                RoleAction::Create => " -> create",
+                RoleAction::Update => " -> update",
+            };
+            info!("   - {}:{}{}", name, pwd, action_str);
+        }
     }
 
     xact.commit()?;
@@ -197,6 +208,7 @@ pub fn handle_roles(spec: &ComputeSpec, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 /// Reassign all dependent objects and delete requested roles.
+#[instrument(skip_all)]
 pub fn handle_role_deletions(node: &ComputeNode, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
     if let Some(ops) = &node.spec.delta_operations {
         // First, reassign all dependent objects to db owners.
@@ -261,13 +273,16 @@ fn reassign_owned_objects(node: &ComputeNode, role_name: &PgIdent) -> Result<()>
 /// like `CREATE DATABASE` and `DROP DATABASE` do not support it. Statement-level
 /// atomicity should be enough here due to the order of operations and various checks,
 /// which together provide us idempotency.
+#[instrument(skip_all)]
 pub fn handle_databases(spec: &ComputeSpec, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
     let existing_dbs: Vec<Database> = get_existing_dbs(client)?;
 
     // Print a list of existing Postgres databases (only in debug mode)
-    info!("postgres databases:");
-    for r in &existing_dbs {
-        info_println!("{} - {}:{}", " ".repeat(27 + 5), r.name, r.owner);
+    if span_enabled!(Level::INFO) {
+        info!("postgres databases:");
+        for r in &existing_dbs {
+            info!("    {}:{}", r.name, r.owner);
+        }
     }
 
     // Process delta operations first
@@ -310,13 +325,15 @@ pub fn handle_databases(spec: &ComputeSpec, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
     for db in &spec.cluster.databases {
         let name = &db.name;
 
-        info_print!("{} - {}:{}", " ".repeat(27 + 5), db.name, db.owner);
-
         // XXX: with a limited number of databases it is fine, but consider making it a HashMap
         let pg_db = existing_dbs.iter().find(|r| r.name == *name);
 
-        let start_time = Instant::now();
-        if let Some(r) = pg_db {
+        enum DatabaseAction {
+            None,
+            Update,
+            Create,
+        }
+        let action = if let Some(r) = pg_db {
             // XXX: db owner name is returned as quoted string from Postgres,
             // when quoting is needed.
             let new_owner = if r.owner.starts_with('"') {
@@ -326,29 +343,42 @@ pub fn handle_databases(spec: &ComputeSpec, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
             };
 
             if new_owner != r.owner {
+                // Update the owner
+                DatabaseAction::Update
+            } else {
+                DatabaseAction::None
+            }
+        } else {
+            DatabaseAction::Create
+        };
+
+        match action {
+            DatabaseAction::None => {}
+            DatabaseAction::Update => {
                 let query: String = format!(
                     "ALTER DATABASE {} OWNER TO {}",
                     name.pg_quote(),
                     db.owner.pg_quote()
                 );
-                info_print!(" -> update");
-
+                let _ = info_span!("executing", query).entered();
                 client.execute(query.as_str(), &[])?;
-                let elapsed = start_time.elapsed().as_millis();
-                info_print!(" ({} ms)", elapsed);
             }
-        } else {
-            let mut query: String = format!("CREATE DATABASE {} ", name.pg_quote());
-            info_print!(" -> create");
+            DatabaseAction::Create => {
+                let mut query: String = format!("CREATE DATABASE {} ", name.pg_quote());
+                query.push_str(&db.to_pg_options());
+                let _ = info_span!("executing", query).entered();
+                client.execute(query.as_str(), &[])?;
+            }
+        };
 
-            query.push_str(&db.to_pg_options());
-            client.execute(query.as_str(), &[])?;
-
-            let elapsed = start_time.elapsed().as_millis();
-            info_print!(" ({} ms)", elapsed);
+        if span_enabled!(Level::INFO) {
+            let action_str = match action {
+                DatabaseAction::None => "",
+                DatabaseAction::Create => " -> create",
+                DatabaseAction::Update => " -> update",
+            };
+            info!("   - {}:{}{}", db.name, db.owner, action_str);
         }
-
-        info_print!("\n");
     }
 
     Ok(())
@@ -356,6 +386,7 @@ pub fn handle_databases(spec: &ComputeSpec, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
 
 /// Grant CREATE ON DATABASE to the database owner and do some other alters and grants
 /// to allow users creating trusted extensions and re-creating `public` schema, for example.
+#[instrument(skip_all)]
 pub fn handle_grants(node: &ComputeNode, client: &mut Client) -> Result<()> {
     let spec = &node.spec;
 
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_compute_ctl.py b/test_runner/regress/test_compute_ctl.py
index f973bd8e60..05ac3841dc 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_compute_ctl.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_compute_ctl.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def test_sync_safekeepers_logs(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder, pg_bin: PgBin):
         )
     except TimeoutExpired as exc:
         ctl_logs = (exc.stderr or b"").decode("utf-8")
-        log.info("compute_ctl output:\n{ctl_logs}")
+        log.info(f"compute_ctl stderr:\n{ctl_logs}")
 
     with ExternalProcessManager(Path(pgdata) / "postmaster.pid"):
         start = "starting safekeepers syncing"
diff --git a/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml b/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml
index 8addfcf72e..f4b71ae9b7 100644
--- a/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml
+++ b/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ futures-util = { version = "0.3", features = ["channel", "io", "sink"] }
 indexmap = { version = "1", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 itertools = { version = "0.10" }
 libc = { version = "0.2", features = ["extra_traits"] }
-log = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["serde", "std"] }
+log = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 memchr = { version = "2" }
 nom = { version = "7" }
 num-bigint = { version = "0.4" }
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ tokio-util = { version = "0.7", features = ["codec", "io"] }
 tower = { version = "0.4", features = ["balance", "buffer", "limit", "retry", "timeout", "util"] }
 tracing = { version = "0.1", features = ["log"] }
 tracing-core = { version = "0.1" }
+tracing-subscriber = { version = "0.3", features = ["env-filter", "json"] }
 url = { version = "2", features = ["serde"] }
 
 [build-dependencies]
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ either = { version = "1" }
 indexmap = { version = "1", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 itertools = { version = "0.10" }
 libc = { version = "0.2", features = ["extra_traits"] }
-log = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["serde", "std"] }
+log = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 memchr = { version = "2" }
 nom = { version = "7" }
 prost = { version = "0.11" }