diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c0ce34a..737010f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -52,7 +52,23 @@ Output:
 
 You can either configure the appenders and log levels manually (as above), or provide a 
 configuration file (`log4js.configure('path/to/file.json')`) explicitly, or just let log4js look for a file called `log4js.json` (it looks in the current directory first, then the require paths, and finally looks for the default config included in the same directory as the `log4js.js` file). 
-An example file can be found in `test/log4js.json`. An example config file with log rolling is in `test/with-log-rolling.json`
+An example file can be found in `test/log4js.json`. An example config file with log rolling is in `test/with-log-rolling.json`.
+By default, the configuration file is checked for changes every 60 seconds, and if changed, reloaded. This allows changes to logging levels
+to occur without restarting the application.
+
+To turn off configuration file change checking, configure with:
+
+    var log4js = require('log4js');
+    log4js.configure(undefined, {}); // load 'log4js.json' from NODE_PATH
+
+Or:
+
+    log4js.configure('my_log4js_configuration.json', {});
+
+To specify a different period:
+
+    log4js.configure(undefined, { reloadSecs: 300 }); // load 'log4js.json' from NODE_PATH
+
 You can also pass an object to the configure function, which has the same properties as the json versions.
 
 ## connect/express logger
diff --git a/lib/log4js.js b/lib/log4js.js
index b42580b..2623639 100644
--- a/lib/log4js.js
+++ b/lib/log4js.js
@@ -67,25 +67,25 @@ function getLogger (categoryName) {
 
     // Use default logger if categoryName is not specified or invalid
     if (!(typeof categoryName == "string")) {
-	categoryName = DEFAULT_CATEGORY;
+        categoryName = DEFAULT_CATEGORY;
     }
 
     var appenderList;
     if (!loggers[categoryName]) {
-	// Create the logger for this name if it doesn't already exist
-	loggers[categoryName] = new Logger(categoryName);
-	if (appenders[categoryName]) {
-	    appenderList = appenders[categoryName];
-	    appenderList.forEach(function(appender) {
-		loggers[categoryName].addListener("log", appender);
-	    });
-	}
-	if (appenders[ALL_CATEGORIES]) {
-	    appenderList = appenders[ALL_CATEGORIES];
-	    appenderList.forEach(function(appender) {
-		loggers[categoryName].addListener("log", appender);
-	    });
-	}
+        // Create the logger for this name if it doesn't already exist
+        loggers[categoryName] = new Logger(categoryName);
+        if (appenders[categoryName]) {
+            appenderList = appenders[categoryName];
+            appenderList.forEach(function(appender) {
+                loggers[categoryName].addListener("log", appender);
+            });
+        }
+        if (appenders[ALL_CATEGORIES]) {
+            appenderList = appenders[ALL_CATEGORIES];
+            appenderList.forEach(function(appender) {
+                loggers[categoryName].addListener("log", appender);
+            });
+        }
     }
 
     return loggers[categoryName];
@@ -98,65 +98,69 @@ function addAppender () {
     var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments);
     var appender = args.shift();
     if (args.length == 0 || args[0] === undefined) {
-	args = [ ALL_CATEGORIES ];
+        args = [ ALL_CATEGORIES ];
     }
     //argument may already be an array
     if (Array.isArray(args[0])) {
-	args = args[0];
+        args = args[0];
     }
 
     args.forEach(function(category) {
-	if (!appenders[category]) {
-	    appenders[category] = [];
-	}
-	appenders[category].push(appender);
+        if (!appenders[category]) {
+            appenders[category] = [];
+        }
+        appenders[category].push(appender);
 
-	if (category === ALL_CATEGORIES) {
-	    for (var logger in loggers) {
-		if (loggers.hasOwnProperty(logger)) {
-		    loggers[logger].addListener("log", appender);
-		}
-	    }
-	} else if (loggers[category]) {
-	    loggers[category].addListener("log", appender);
-	}
+        if (category === ALL_CATEGORIES) {
+            for (var logger in loggers) {
+                if (loggers.hasOwnProperty(logger)) {
+                    loggers[logger].addListener("log", appender);
+                }
+            }
+        } else if (loggers[category]) {
+            loggers[category].addListener("log", appender);
+        }
     });
 }
 
 function clearAppenders () {
     appenders = {};
     for (var logger in loggers) {
-	if (loggers.hasOwnProperty(logger)) {
-	    loggers[logger].removeAllListeners("log");
-	}
+        if (loggers.hasOwnProperty(logger)) {
+            loggers[logger].removeAllListeners("log");
+        }
     }
 }
 
 function configureAppenders(appenderList) {
     clearAppenders();
     if (appenderList) {
-	appenderList.forEach(function(appenderConfig) {
+        appenderList.forEach(function(appenderConfig) {
             var appender;
             appenderConfig.makers = appenderMakers;
-	    appender = appenderMakers[appenderConfig.type](appenderConfig);
-	    if (appender) {
-		addAppender(appender, appenderConfig.category);
-	    } else {
-		throw new Error("log4js configuration problem for "+sys.inspect(appenderConfig));
-	    }
-	});
+            appender = appenderMakers[appenderConfig.type](appenderConfig);
+            if (appender) {
+                addAppender(appender, appenderConfig.category);
+            } else {
+                throw new Error("log4js configuration problem for "+sys.inspect(appenderConfig));
+            }
+        });
     } else {
-	addAppender(consoleAppender());
+        addAppender(consoleAppender());
     }
 }
 
 function configureLevels(levels) {
     if (levels) {
-	for (var category in levels) {
-	    if (levels.hasOwnProperty(category)) {
-		getLogger(category).setLevel(levels[category]);
-	    }
-	}
+        for (var category in levels) {
+            if (levels.hasOwnProperty(category)) {
+                getLogger(category).setLevel(levels[category]);
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        for (l in loggers) {
+            loggers[l].setLevel();
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -214,18 +218,18 @@ Logger.prototype.isLevelEnabled = function(otherLevel) {
 
 ['Trace','Debug','Info','Warn','Error','Fatal'].forEach(
     function(levelString) {
-	var level = levels.toLevel(levelString);
-	Logger.prototype['is'+levelString+'Enabled'] = function() {
-	    return this.isLevelEnabled(level);
-	};
+        var level = levels.toLevel(levelString);
+        Logger.prototype['is'+levelString+'Enabled'] = function() {
+            return this.isLevelEnabled(level);
+        };
 
-	Logger.prototype[levelString.toLowerCase()] = function () {
-	    if (this.isLevelEnabled(level)) {
+        Logger.prototype[levelString.toLowerCase()] = function () {
+            if (this.isLevelEnabled(level)) {
                 var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments);
                 args.unshift(level);
                 Logger.prototype.log.apply(this, args);
-	    }
-	};
+            }
+        };
     }
 );
 
@@ -242,21 +246,6 @@ function getDefaultLogger () {
     return getLogger(DEFAULT_CATEGORY);
 }
 
-function configure (configurationFileOrObject) {
-    var config = configurationFileOrObject;
-    if (typeof(config) === "string") {
-	config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(config, "utf8"));
-    }
-    if (config) {
-	try {
-	    configureAppenders(config.appenders);
-	    configureLevels(config.levels);
-        } catch (e) {
-	    throw new Error("Problem reading log4js config " + sys.inspect(config) + ". Error was \"" + e.message + "\" ("+e.stack+")");
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 function findConfiguration() {
     //add current directory onto the list of configPaths
     var paths = ['.'].concat(require.paths);
@@ -276,6 +265,79 @@ function findConfiguration() {
     return undefined;
 }
 
+function loadConfigurationFile(filename) {
+    filename = filename || findConfiguration();
+    if (filename) {
+        return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filename, "utf8"));
+    }
+    return undefined;
+}
+
+function configureOnceOff(config) {
+    if (config) {
+        try {
+            configureAppenders(config.appenders);
+            configureLevels(config.levels);
+        } catch (e) {
+            throw new Error("Problem reading log4js config " + sys.inspect(config) + ". Error was \"" + e.message + "\" ("+e.stack+")");
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+var configState = {};
+
+function reloadConfiguration() {
+    var filename = configState.filename || findConfiguration(),
+    mtime;
+    if (!filename) {
+        // can't find anything to reload
+        return;
+    }
+    try {
+        mtime = fs.statSync(filename).mtime;
+    } catch (e) {
+        getLogger('log4js').warn('Failed to load configuration file ' + filename);
+        return;
+    }
+    if (configState.lastFilename && configState.lastFilename === filename) {
+        if (mtime.getTime() > configState.lastMTime.getTime()) {
+            configState.lastMTime = mtime;
+        } else {
+            filename = null;
+        }
+    } else {
+        configState.lastFilename = filename;
+        configState.lastMTime = mtime;
+    }
+    configureOnceOff(loadConfigurationFile(filename));
+}
+
+function initReloadConfiguration(filename, options) {
+    if (configState.timerId) {
+        clearInterval(configState.timerId);
+        delete configState.timerId;
+    }
+    configState.filename = filename;
+    configState.timerId = setInterval(reloadConfiguration, options.reloadSecs*1000);
+}
+
+function configure (configurationFileOrObject, options) {
+    var config = configurationFileOrObject;
+    if (config === undefined || config === null || typeof(config) === 'string') {
+        options = options || { reloadSecs: 60 };
+        if (options.reloadSecs) {
+            initReloadConfiguration(config, options);
+        }
+        configureOnceOff(loadConfigurationFile(config));
+    } else {
+        options = options || {};
+        if (options.reloadSecs) {
+            getLogger('log4js').warn('Ignoring configuration reload parameter for "object" configuration.');
+        }
+        configureOnceOff(config);
+    }
+}
+
 function replaceConsole(logger) {
     function replaceWith(fn) {
         return function() {
diff --git a/test/logging.js b/test/logging.js
index b08fd13..b9821b3 100644
--- a/test/logging.js
+++ b/test/logging.js
@@ -4,54 +4,54 @@ var vows = require('vows')
 
 vows.describe('log4js').addBatch({
     'getLogger': {
-	topic: function() {
-	    var log4js = require('../lib/log4js');
-	    log4js.clearAppenders();
-	    var logger = log4js.getLogger('tests');
-	    logger.setLevel("DEBUG");
-	    return logger;
-	},
+        topic: function() {
+            var log4js = require('../lib/log4js');
+            log4js.clearAppenders();
+            var logger = log4js.getLogger('tests');
+            logger.setLevel("DEBUG");
+            return logger;
+        },
 
-	'should take a category and return a logger': function(logger) {
-	    assert.equal(logger.category, 'tests');
-	    assert.equal(logger.level.toString(), "DEBUG");
-	    assert.isFunction(logger.debug);
-	    assert.isFunction(logger.info);
-	    assert.isFunction(logger.warn);
-	    assert.isFunction(logger.error);
-	    assert.isFunction(logger.fatal);
-	},
+        'should take a category and return a logger': function(logger) {
+            assert.equal(logger.category, 'tests');
+            assert.equal(logger.level.toString(), "DEBUG");
+            assert.isFunction(logger.debug);
+            assert.isFunction(logger.info);
+            assert.isFunction(logger.warn);
+            assert.isFunction(logger.error);
+            assert.isFunction(logger.fatal);
+        },
 
-	'log events' : {
-	    topic: function(logger) {
-		var events = [];
-		logger.addListener("log", function (logEvent) { events.push(logEvent); });
-		logger.debug("Debug event");
-		logger.trace("Trace event 1");
-		logger.trace("Trace event 2");
-		logger.warn("Warning event");
+        'log events' : {
+            topic: function(logger) {
+                var events = [];
+                logger.addListener("log", function (logEvent) { events.push(logEvent); });
+                logger.debug("Debug event");
+                logger.trace("Trace event 1");
+                logger.trace("Trace event 2");
+                logger.warn("Warning event");
                 logger.error("Aargh!", new Error("Pants are on fire!"));
                 logger.error("Simulated CouchDB problem", { err: 127, cause: "incendiary underwear" });
-		return events;
-	    },
+                return events;
+            },
 
-	    'should emit log events': function(events) {
-		assert.equal(events[0].level.toString(), 'DEBUG');
-		assert.equal(events[0].data[0], 'Debug event');
-		assert.instanceOf(events[0].startTime, Date);
-	    },
+            'should emit log events': function(events) {
+                assert.equal(events[0].level.toString(), 'DEBUG');
+                assert.equal(events[0].data[0], 'Debug event');
+                assert.instanceOf(events[0].startTime, Date);
+            },
 
-	    'should not emit events of a lower level': function(events) {
-		assert.length(events, 4);
-		assert.equal(events[1].level.toString(), 'WARN');
-	    },
+            'should not emit events of a lower level': function(events) {
+                assert.length(events, 4);
+                assert.equal(events[1].level.toString(), 'WARN');
+            },
 
             'should include the error if passed in': function (events) {
                 assert.instanceOf(events[2].data[1], Error);
                 assert.equal(events[2].data[1].message, 'Pants are on fire!');
             }
 
-	},
+        },
 
     },
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ vows.describe('log4js').addBatch({
 
     'configuration when passed as object': {
         topic: function() {
-	    var appenderConfig
+            var appenderConfig
           , log4js = sandbox.require(
               '../lib/log4js'
             , { requires:
@@ -82,22 +82,22 @@ vows.describe('log4js').addBatch({
               }
           )
           , config = {
-		"appenders": [
-		    {
-			"type" : "file",
-			"filename" : "cheesy-wotsits.log",
-			"maxLogSize" : 1024,
-			"backups" : 3,
-			"pollInterval" : 15
-		    }
-		]
-	    };
-	    log4js.configure(config);
+                "appenders": [
+                    {
+                        "type" : "file",
+                        "filename" : "cheesy-wotsits.log",
+                        "maxLogSize" : 1024,
+                        "backups" : 3,
+                        "pollInterval" : 15
+                    }
+                ]
+            };
+            log4js.configure(config);
             return appenderConfig;
         },
         'should be passed to appender config': function(configuration) {
-	    assert.equal(configuration.filename, 'cheesy-wotsits.log');
-	}
+            assert.equal(configuration.filename, 'cheesy-wotsits.log');
+        }
     },
 
     'configuration when passed as filename': {
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ vows.describe('log4js').addBatch({
                 }
               }
           );
-	    logger = log4js.getLogger("some-logger");
+            logger = log4js.getLogger("some-logger");
             logger.debug("This is a test");
         },
         'should default to the console appender': function(evt) {
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ vows.describe('log4js').addBatch({
                     return fakeConsole.appender();
                 }
             },
-	    log4js = sandbox.require(
+            log4js = sandbox.require(
                 '../lib/log4js',
                 {
                     requires: {
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ vows.describe('log4js').addBatch({
                 }
             );
 
-	    logger = log4js.getLogger('a-test');
+            logger = log4js.getLogger('a-test');
             logger.debug("this is a test");
             return [ pathsChecked, appenderEvent, modulePath ];
         },
@@ -380,16 +380,87 @@ vows.describe('log4js').addBatch({
         }
     },
     'configuration persistence' : {
-	'should maintain appenders between requires': function () {
-	    var logEvent, firstLog4js = require('../lib/log4js'), secondLog4js;
-	    firstLog4js.clearAppenders();
-	    firstLog4js.addAppender(function(evt) { logEvent = evt; });
+        'should maintain appenders between requires': function () {
+            var logEvent, firstLog4js = require('../lib/log4js'), secondLog4js;
+            firstLog4js.clearAppenders();
+            firstLog4js.addAppender(function(evt) { logEvent = evt; });
 
-	    secondLog4js = require('../lib/log4js');
-	    secondLog4js.getLogger().info("This should go to the appender defined in firstLog4js");
+            secondLog4js = require('../lib/log4js');
+            secondLog4js.getLogger().info("This should go to the appender defined in firstLog4js");
 
-	    assert.equal(logEvent.data[0], "This should go to the appender defined in firstLog4js");
-	}
+            assert.equal(logEvent.data[0], "This should go to the appender defined in firstLog4js");
+        }
+    },
+    'configuration reload' : {
+        topic: function() {
+            var pathsChecked = [],
+            logEvents = [],
+            logger,
+            modulePath = require('path').normalize(__dirname + '/../lib/log4js.json'),
+            fakeFS = {
+                config: { appenders: [ { type: 'console', layout: { type: 'messagePassThrough' } } ],
+                          levels: { 'a-test' : 'INFO' } },
+                readdirSync: function(dir) {
+                    return require('fs').readdirSync(dir);
+                },
+                readFileSync: function (file, encoding) {
+                    assert.equal(file, modulePath);
+                    assert.equal(encoding, 'utf8');
+                    return JSON.stringify(fakeFS.config);
+                },
+                statSync: function (path) {
+                    pathsChecked.push(path);
+                    if (path === modulePath) {
+                        return { mtime: new Date() };
+                    } else {
+                        throw new Error("no such file");
+                    }
+                }
+            },
+            fakeConsole = {
+                'name': 'console', 
+                'appender': function () {
+                    return function(evt) { logEvents.push(evt); };
+                }, 
+                'configure': function (config) {
+                    return fakeConsole.appender();
+                }
+            },
+            setIntervalCallback,
+            fakeSetInterval = function(cb, timeout) {
+                setIntervalCallback = cb;
+            },
+            log4js = sandbox.require(
+                '../lib/log4js',
+                {
+                    requires: {
+                        'fs': fakeFS, 
+                        './appenders/console.js': fakeConsole
+                    },
+                    globals: {
+                        'console': fakeConsole,
+                        'setInterval' : fakeSetInterval,
+                    }
+                }
+            );
+
+            logger = log4js.getLogger('a-test');
+            logger.info("info1");
+            logger.debug("debug2 - should be ignored");
+            delete fakeFS.config.levels;
+            setIntervalCallback();
+            logger.info("info3");
+            logger.debug("debug4");
+
+            return [ pathsChecked, logEvents, modulePath ];
+        },
+        'should configure log4js from first log4js.json found': function(args) {
+            var logEvents = args[1];
+            assert.length(logEvents, 3);
+            assert.equal(logEvents[0].data[0], 'info1');
+            assert.equal(logEvents[1].data[0], 'info3'); 
+            assert.equal(logEvents[2].data[0], 'debug4');
+        }
     }
 
 }).export(module);