diff --git a/influxdb_iox/src/commands/tracing.rs b/influxdb_iox/src/commands/tracing.rs
index 22e0da331e..5303da3227 100644
--- a/influxdb_iox/src/commands/tracing.rs
+++ b/influxdb_iox/src/commands/tracing.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 //! Log and trace initialization and setup
 
-use observability_deps::tracing::subscriber;
 use std::cmp::max;
 pub use trogging::config::*;
-pub use trogging::TroggingGuard;
+pub use trogging::{self, TroggingGuard};
 use trogging::{
     cli::LoggingConfigBuilderExt,
     tracing_subscriber::{prelude::*, Registry},
@@ -45,7 +44,5 @@ pub fn init_logs_and_tracing(
     };
 
     let subscriber = Registry::default().with(layers);
-    subscriber::set_global_default(subscriber)?;
-
-    Ok(TroggingGuard)
+    trogging::install_global(subscriber)
 }
diff --git a/trogging/src/cli.rs b/trogging/src/cli.rs
index 37f026ae4a..ae088a0928 100644
--- a/trogging/src/cli.rs
+++ b/trogging/src/cli.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ///! Common CLI flags for logging and tracing
-use crate::{config::*, Builder, Result, TroggingGuard};
+use crate::{config::*, Builder};
 use tracing_subscriber::fmt::{writer::BoxMakeWriter, MakeWriter};
 
 /// CLI config for the logging related subset of options.
@@ -120,10 +120,6 @@ impl LoggingConfig {
             .with_log_destination(self.log_destination)
             .with_log_format(self.log_format)
     }
-
-    pub fn install_global_subscriber(&self) -> Result<TroggingGuard> {
-        self.to_builder().install_global()
-    }
 }
 
 /// Extends the trogging [`crate::Builder`] API.
diff --git a/trogging/src/lib.rs b/trogging/src/lib.rs
index 8758d858d6..8a3f4cab35 100644
--- a/trogging/src/lib.rs
+++ b/trogging/src/lib.rs
@@ -246,12 +246,25 @@ where
     pub fn install_global(self) -> Result<TroggingGuard> {
         let layer = self.build()?;
         let subscriber = tracing_subscriber::Registry::default().with(layer);
-        tracing::subscriber::set_global_default(subscriber)?;
-        tracing_log::LogTracer::init()?;
-        Ok(TroggingGuard)
+        install_global(subscriber)
     }
 }
 
+/// Install a global tracing/logging subscriber.
+///
+/// Call this function when installing a subscriber instead of calling
+/// `tracing::subscriber::set_global_default` directly.
+///
+/// This function also sets up the `log::Log` -> `tracing` bridge.
+pub fn install_global<S>(subscriber: S) -> Result<TroggingGuard>
+where
+    S: Subscriber + Send + Sync + 'static,
+{
+    tracing::subscriber::set_global_default(subscriber)?;
+    tracing_log::LogTracer::init()?;
+    Ok(TroggingGuard)
+}
+
 /// A RAII guard. On Drop, ensures all events are flushed
 ///
 /// Note: This is currently unnecessary but has been kept in case we choose to