diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a97bb06..718681a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ func main() {
 * warn (`zerolog.WarnLevel`, 2)
 * info (`zerolog.InfoLevel`, 1)
 * debug (`zerolog.DebugLevel`, 0)
+* trace (`zerolog.TraceLevel`, -1)
 
 You can set the Global logging level to any of these options using the `SetGlobalLevel` function in the zerolog package, passing in one of the given constants above, e.g. `zerolog.InfoLevel` would be the "info" level.  Whichever level is chosen, all logs with a level greater than or equal to that level will be written. To turn off logging entirely, pass the `zerolog.Disabled` constant.
 
diff --git a/binary_test.go b/binary_test.go
index b4b52d9..79cfa9c 100644
--- a/binary_test.go
+++ b/binary_test.go
@@ -108,6 +108,19 @@ func ExampleLogger_Printf() {
 	// Output: {"level":"debug","message":"hello world"}
 }
 
+func ExampleLogger_Trace() {
+	dst := bytes.Buffer{}
+	log := New(&dst)
+
+	log.Trace().
+		Str("foo", "bar").
+		Int("n", 123).
+		Msg("hello world")
+
+	fmt.Println(decodeIfBinaryToString(dst.Bytes()))
+	// Output: {"level":"trace","foo":"bar","n":123,"message":"hello world"}
+}
+
 func ExampleLogger_Debug() {
 	dst := bytes.Buffer{}
 	log := New(&dst)
diff --git a/console.go b/console.go
index 15bd063..75f6e45 100644
--- a/console.go
+++ b/console.go
@@ -317,6 +317,8 @@ func consoleDefaultFormatLevel(noColor bool) Formatter {
 		var l string
 		if ll, ok := i.(string); ok {
 			switch ll {
+			case "trace":
+				l = colorize("TRC", colorMagenta, noColor)
 			case "debug":
 				l = colorize("DBG", colorYellow, noColor)
 			case "info":
diff --git a/ctx.go b/ctx.go
index 2b7a682..ce18a32 100644
--- a/ctx.go
+++ b/ctx.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 var disabledLogger *Logger
 
 func init() {
+	SetGlobalLevel(TraceLevel)
 	l := Nop()
 	disabledLogger = &l
 }
diff --git a/globals.go b/globals.go
index f7f87be..421429a 100644
--- a/globals.go
+++ b/globals.go
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ package zerolog
 
 import (
 	"strconv"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 )
-import "sync/atomic"
 
 const (
 	// TimeFormatUnix defines a time format that makes time fields to be
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ var (
 )
 
 var (
-	gLevel          = new(uint32)
-	disableSampling = new(uint32)
+	gLevel          = new(int32)
+	disableSampling = new(int32)
 )
 
 // SetGlobalLevel sets the global override for log level. If this
@@ -92,23 +92,23 @@ var (
 //
 // To globally disable logs, set GlobalLevel to Disabled.
 func SetGlobalLevel(l Level) {
-	atomic.StoreUint32(gLevel, uint32(l))
+	atomic.StoreInt32(gLevel, int32(l))
 }
 
 // GlobalLevel returns the current global log level
 func GlobalLevel() Level {
-	return Level(atomic.LoadUint32(gLevel))
+	return Level(atomic.LoadInt32(gLevel))
 }
 
 // DisableSampling will disable sampling in all Loggers if true.
 func DisableSampling(v bool) {
-	var i uint32
+	var i int32
 	if v {
 		i = 1
 	}
-	atomic.StoreUint32(disableSampling, i)
+	atomic.StoreInt32(disableSampling, i)
 }
 
 func samplingDisabled() bool {
-	return atomic.LoadUint32(disableSampling) == 1
+	return atomic.LoadInt32(disableSampling) == 1
 }
diff --git a/hook.go b/hook.go
index 08133ac..ec6effc 100644
--- a/hook.go
+++ b/hook.go
@@ -17,12 +17,16 @@ func (h HookFunc) Run(e *Event, level Level, message string) {
 
 // LevelHook applies a different hook for each level.
 type LevelHook struct {
-	NoLevelHook, DebugHook, InfoHook, WarnHook, ErrorHook, FatalHook, PanicHook Hook
+	NoLevelHook, TraceHook, DebugHook, InfoHook, WarnHook, ErrorHook, FatalHook, PanicHook Hook
 }
 
 // Run implements the Hook interface.
 func (h LevelHook) Run(e *Event, level Level, message string) {
 	switch level {
+	case TraceLevel:
+		if h.TraceHook != nil {
+			h.TraceHook.Run(e, level, message)
+		}
 	case DebugLevel:
 		if h.DebugHook != nil {
 			h.DebugHook.Run(e, level, message)
diff --git a/journald/journald.go b/journald/journald.go
index ce3a382..058a68a 100644
--- a/journald/journald.go
+++ b/journald/journald.go
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ func levelToJPrio(zLevel string) journal.Priority {
 	lvl, _ := zerolog.ParseLevel(zLevel)
 
 	switch lvl {
+	case zerolog.TraceLevel:
+		return journal.PriDebug
 	case zerolog.DebugLevel:
 		return journal.PriDebug
 	case zerolog.InfoLevel:
diff --git a/log.go b/log.go
index 025221f..c0507de 100644
--- a/log.go
+++ b/log.go
@@ -107,9 +107,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Level defines log levels.
-type Level uint8
+type Level int8
 
 const (
+	// TraceLevel defines trace log level.
+	TraceLevel Level = -1
 	// DebugLevel defines debug log level.
 	DebugLevel Level = iota
 	// InfoLevel defines info log level.
@@ -130,6 +132,8 @@ const (
 
 func (l Level) String() string {
 	switch l {
+	case TraceLevel:
+		return "trace"
 	case DebugLevel:
 		return "debug"
 	case InfoLevel:
@@ -152,6 +156,8 @@ func (l Level) String() string {
 // returns an error if the input string does not match known values.
 func ParseLevel(levelStr string) (Level, error) {
 	switch levelStr {
+	case LevelFieldMarshalFunc(TraceLevel):
+		return TraceLevel, nil
 	case LevelFieldMarshalFunc(DebugLevel):
 		return DebugLevel, nil
 	case LevelFieldMarshalFunc(InfoLevel):
@@ -198,7 +204,7 @@ func New(w io.Writer) Logger {
 	if !ok {
 		lw = levelWriterAdapter{w}
 	}
-	return Logger{w: lw}
+	return Logger{w: lw, level: TraceLevel}
 }
 
 // Nop returns a disabled logger for which all operation are no-op.
@@ -268,6 +274,13 @@ func (l Logger) Hook(h Hook) Logger {
 	return l
 }
 
+// Trace starts a new message with trace level.
+//
+// You must call Msg on the returned event in order to send the event.
+func (l *Logger) Trace() *Event {
+	return l.newEvent(TraceLevel, nil)
+}
+
 // Debug starts a new message with debug level.
 //
 // You must call Msg on the returned event in order to send the event.
@@ -331,6 +344,8 @@ func (l *Logger) Panic() *Event {
 // You must call Msg on the returned event in order to send the event.
 func (l *Logger) WithLevel(level Level) *Event {
 	switch level {
+	case TraceLevel:
+		return l.Trace()
 	case DebugLevel:
 		return l.Debug()
 	case InfoLevel:
diff --git a/log/log.go b/log/log.go
index dd92ab9..d3e12d0 100644
--- a/log/log.go
+++ b/log/log.go
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ func Hook(h zerolog.Hook) zerolog.Logger {
 	return Logger.Hook(h)
 }
 
+// Trace starts a new message with trace level.
+//
+// You must call Msg on the returned event in order to send the event.
+func Trace() *zerolog.Event {
+	return Logger.Trace()
+}
+
 // Debug starts a new message with debug level.
 //
 // You must call Msg on the returned event in order to send the event.
diff --git a/log/log_example_test.go b/log/log_example_test.go
index 4938435..3127e51 100644
--- a/log/log_example_test.go
+++ b/log/log_example_test.go
@@ -54,6 +54,14 @@ func ExampleLog() {
 	// Output: {"time":1199811905,"message":"hello world"}
 }
 
+// Example of a log at a particular "level" (in this case, "trace")
+func ExampleTrace() {
+	setup()
+	log.Trace().Msg("hello world")
+
+	// Output: {"level":"trace","time":1199811905,"message":"hello world"}
+}
+
 // Example of a log at a particular "level" (in this case, "debug")
 func ExampleDebug() {
 	setup()
diff --git a/log_example_test.go b/log_example_test.go
index 7344745..71fd217 100644
--- a/log_example_test.go
+++ b/log_example_test.go
@@ -95,6 +95,17 @@ func ExampleLogger_Printf() {
 	// Output: {"level":"debug","message":"hello world"}
 }
 
+func ExampleLogger_Trace() {
+	log := zerolog.New(os.Stdout)
+
+	log.Trace().
+		Str("foo", "bar").
+		Int("n", 123).
+		Msg("hello world")
+
+	// Output: {"level":"trace","foo":"bar","n":123,"message":"hello world"}
+}
+
 func ExampleLogger_Debug() {
 	log := zerolog.New(os.Stdout)
 
diff --git a/log_test.go b/log_test.go
index dfd2737..dee2916 100644
--- a/log_test.go
+++ b/log_test.go
@@ -526,30 +526,34 @@ func TestLevelWriter(t *testing.T) {
 		}{},
 	}
 	log := New(lw)
+	log.Trace().Msg("0")
 	log.Debug().Msg("1")
 	log.Info().Msg("2")
 	log.Warn().Msg("3")
 	log.Error().Msg("4")
 	log.Log().Msg("nolevel-1")
-	log.WithLevel(DebugLevel).Msg("5")
-	log.WithLevel(InfoLevel).Msg("6")
-	log.WithLevel(WarnLevel).Msg("7")
-	log.WithLevel(ErrorLevel).Msg("8")
+	log.WithLevel(TraceLevel).Msg("5")
+	log.WithLevel(DebugLevel).Msg("6")
+	log.WithLevel(InfoLevel).Msg("7")
+	log.WithLevel(WarnLevel).Msg("8")
+	log.WithLevel(ErrorLevel).Msg("9")
 	log.WithLevel(NoLevel).Msg("nolevel-2")
 
 	want := []struct {
 		l Level
 		p string
 	}{
+		{TraceLevel, `{"level":"trace","message":"0"}` + "\n"},
 		{DebugLevel, `{"level":"debug","message":"1"}` + "\n"},
 		{InfoLevel, `{"level":"info","message":"2"}` + "\n"},
 		{WarnLevel, `{"level":"warn","message":"3"}` + "\n"},
 		{ErrorLevel, `{"level":"error","message":"4"}` + "\n"},
 		{NoLevel, `{"message":"nolevel-1"}` + "\n"},
-		{DebugLevel, `{"level":"debug","message":"5"}` + "\n"},
-		{InfoLevel, `{"level":"info","message":"6"}` + "\n"},
-		{WarnLevel, `{"level":"warn","message":"7"}` + "\n"},
-		{ErrorLevel, `{"level":"error","message":"8"}` + "\n"},
+		{TraceLevel, `{"level":"trace","message":"5"}` + "\n"},
+		{DebugLevel, `{"level":"debug","message":"6"}` + "\n"},
+		{InfoLevel, `{"level":"info","message":"7"}` + "\n"},
+		{WarnLevel, `{"level":"warn","message":"8"}` + "\n"},
+		{ErrorLevel, `{"level":"error","message":"9"}` + "\n"},
 		{NoLevel, `{"message":"nolevel-2"}` + "\n"},
 	}
 	if got := lw.ops; !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
diff --git a/sampler.go b/sampler.go
index 7b0923e..a99629e 100644
--- a/sampler.go
+++ b/sampler.go
@@ -104,11 +104,15 @@ func (s *BurstSampler) inc() uint32 {
 
 // LevelSampler applies a different sampler for each level.
 type LevelSampler struct {
-	DebugSampler, InfoSampler, WarnSampler, ErrorSampler Sampler
+	TraceSampler, DebugSampler, InfoSampler, WarnSampler, ErrorSampler Sampler
 }
 
 func (s LevelSampler) Sample(lvl Level) bool {
 	switch lvl {
+	case TraceLevel:
+		if s.TraceSampler != nil {
+			return s.TraceSampler.Sample(lvl)
+		}
 	case DebugLevel:
 		if s.DebugSampler != nil {
 			return s.DebugSampler.Sample(lvl)
diff --git a/syslog.go b/syslog.go
index 82b470e..31c97a5 100644
--- a/syslog.go
+++ b/syslog.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 // SyslogWriter is an interface matching a syslog.Writer struct.
 type SyslogWriter interface {
 	io.Writer
+	Trace(m string) error
 	Debug(m string) error
 	Info(m string) error
 	Warning(m string) error
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ func (sw syslogWriter) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
 // WriteLevel implements LevelWriter interface.
 func (sw syslogWriter) WriteLevel(level Level, p []byte) (n int, err error) {
 	switch level {
+	case TraceLevel:
+		err = sw.w.Trace(string(p))
 	case DebugLevel:
 		err = sw.w.Debug(string(p))
 	case InfoLevel:
diff --git a/syslog_test.go b/syslog_test.go
index 94d15d9..aa8d41e 100644
--- a/syslog_test.go
+++ b/syslog_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ type syslogTestWriter struct {
 func (w *syslogTestWriter) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
 	return 0, nil
 }
+func (w *syslogTestWriter) Trace(m string) error {
+	w.events = append(w.events, syslogEvent{"Trace", m})
+	return nil
+}
 func (w *syslogTestWriter) Debug(m string) error {
 	w.events = append(w.events, syslogEvent{"Debug", m})
 	return nil
@@ -45,12 +49,14 @@ func (w *syslogTestWriter) Crit(m string) error {
 func TestSyslogWriter(t *testing.T) {
 	sw := &syslogTestWriter{}
 	log := New(SyslogLevelWriter(sw))
+	log.Trace().Msg("trace")
 	log.Debug().Msg("debug")
 	log.Info().Msg("info")
 	log.Warn().Msg("warn")
 	log.Error().Msg("error")
 	log.Log().Msg("nolevel")
 	want := []syslogEvent{
+		{"Trace", `{"level":"trace","message":"trace"}` + "\n"},
 		{"Debug", `{"level":"debug","message":"debug"}` + "\n"},
 		{"Info", `{"level":"info","message":"info"}` + "\n"},
 		{"Warning", `{"level":"warn","message":"warn"}` + "\n"},