diff --git a/crates/kit/src/main.rs b/crates/kit/src/main.rs
index c97f005..815f092 100644
--- a/crates/kit/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/kit/src/main.rs
@@ -154,7 +154,11 @@ fn install_tracing() {
     use tracing_subscriber::prelude::*;
     use tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter;
 
-    let fmt_layer = fmt::layer().with_target(false).with_writer(std::io::stderr);
+    let format = fmt::format().without_time().with_target(false).compact();
+
+    let fmt_layer = fmt::layer()
+        .event_format(format)
+        .with_writer(std::io::stderr);
     let filter_layer = EnvFilter::try_from_default_env()
         .or_else(|_| EnvFilter::try_new("info"))
         .unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/kit/src/run_ephemeral.rs b/crates/kit/src/run_ephemeral.rs
index fb103f6..07b6694 100644
--- a/crates/kit/src/run_ephemeral.rs
+++ b/crates/kit/src/run_ephemeral.rs
@@ -154,6 +154,13 @@ pub struct CommonPodmanOptions {
         help = "Add metadata to the container in key=value form"
     )]
     pub label: Vec<String>,
+
+    #[clap(
+        long = "env",
+        short = 'e',
+        help = "Set environment variables in the container (key=value)"
+    )]
+    pub env: Vec<String>,
 }
 
 /// Common VM configuration options for hardware, networking, and features.
@@ -400,6 +407,9 @@ fn prepare_run_command_with_temp(
     if opts.podman.detach {
         cmd.arg("-d");
     }
+    for env in opts.podman.env.iter() {
+        cmd.arg(format!("--env={env}"));
+    }
 
     let vhost_dev = Utf8Path::new(qemu::VHOST_VSOCK)
         .try_exists()?
@@ -463,11 +473,6 @@ fn prepare_run_command_with_temp(
         cmd.args(["-v", &format!("{}:/run/systemd-units:ro", units_dir)]);
     }
 
-    // Propagate this by default
-    if let Some(log) = std::env::var("RUST_LOG").ok() {
-        cmd.arg(format!("--env=RUST_LOG={log}"));
-    }
-
     // Pass configuration as JSON via BCK_CONFIG environment variable
     let config = serde_json::to_string(&opts).unwrap();
     cmd.args(["-e", &format!("BCK_CONFIG={config}")]);