diff --git a/src/build.rs b/src/build.rs
index b205a82e..71058b4a 100644
--- a/src/build.rs
+++ b/src/build.rs
@@ -215,6 +215,7 @@ impl BuildDirectory {
         feature = "tracing",
         tracing::instrument(
             skip_all,
+            level = "debug",
             fields(
                 build_dir = %self.name,
                 krate = %krate,
@@ -256,13 +257,7 @@ impl BuildDirectory {
 
         let res = {
             #[cfg(feature = "tracing")]
-            let _entered = tracing::info_span!(
-                "build.user_callback",
-                build_dir = %self.name,
-                krate = %krate,
-                toolchain = %toolchain,
-            )
-            .entered();
+            let _entered = tracing::debug_span!("build.user_callback").entered();
 
             f(&Build {
                 dir: self,
diff --git a/src/cmd/mod.rs b/src/cmd/mod.rs
index 589d80f4..6e97daa6 100644
--- a/src/cmd/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/mod.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use log::{error, info};
 use process_lines_actions::InnerState;
 use std::ffi::{OsStr, OsString};
 use std::fmt;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::process::{ExitStatus, Stdio};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 use std::{cell::RefCell, env::consts::EXE_SUFFIX, rc::Rc};
@@ -417,10 +417,7 @@ impl<'w> Command<'w, '_> {
         self.run_inner(true)
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(skip_all, fields(self = ?self, capture))
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn run_inner(self, capture: bool) -> Result<ProcessOutput, CommandError> {
         if let Some(sandbox) = self.sandbox {
             let binary = match self.binary {
@@ -477,6 +474,7 @@ impl<'w> Command<'w, '_> {
                 }
             };
 
+            let cmdstr = format_command(binary.as_os_str(), &self.args);
             let mut cmd = AsyncCommand::new(binary);
             cmd.args(&self.args);
 
@@ -507,14 +505,12 @@ impl<'w> Command<'w, '_> {
                 cmd.env(k, v);
             }
 
-            let cmdstr = format!("{cmd:?}");
-
             if let Some(ref current_directory) = self.current_directory {
                 cmd.current_dir(current_directory);
             }
 
             if self.log_command {
-                info!("running `{cmdstr}`");
+                info!("running `{}`", cmdstr.to_string_lossy());
             }
 
             let out = RUNTIME
@@ -701,8 +697,40 @@ async fn log_command(
     })
 }
 
+fn format_command<S1, S2, I>(binary: S1, args: I) -> OsString
+where
+    S1: AsRef<OsStr>,
+    S2: AsRef<OsStr>,
+    I: IntoIterator<Item = S2>,
+{
+    let binary = binary.as_ref();
+    let binary_name = Path::new(binary).file_name().unwrap_or(binary);
+
+    let mut command = OsString::from(format!("{:?}", binary_name));
+
+    for arg in args {
+        command.push(format!(" {:?}", arg.as_ref()));
+    }
+    command
+}
+
 fn exe_suffix(file: &OsStr) -> OsString {
     let mut path = OsString::from(file);
     path.push(EXE_SUFFIX);
     path
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn formats_only_the_program_and_arguments() {
+        let args = ["argument", "argument with spaces"];
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            format_command(OsStr::new("/path/to/program"), args),
+            r#""program" "argument" "argument with spaces""#
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/cmd/sandbox/docker.rs b/src/cmd/sandbox/docker.rs
index fdd85d81..e43653da 100644
--- a/src/cmd/sandbox/docker.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/sandbox/docker.rs
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ impl<'w> CgroupStatsReader<'w> {
         self.oom_kill_count = self.read_oom_kill_count();
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     pub(super) fn read_memory_peak(&mut self) -> Option<u64> {
         if let Some(host_cgroup) = self.detect_host_cgroup()
             && let Some(peak) = host_cgroup.read_memory_peak()
diff --git a/src/cmd/sandbox/mod.rs b/src/cmd/sandbox/mod.rs
index d660431a..ff796a94 100644
--- a/src/cmd/sandbox/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cmd/sandbox/mod.rs
@@ -598,21 +598,7 @@ impl SandboxBuilder {
         Ok(container)
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(
-            skip_all,
-            fields(
-                image = %workspace.sandbox_image().name,
-                mounts = self.mounts.len(),
-                memory_limit = ?self.memory_limit,
-                cpu_limit = ?self.cpu_limit,
-                cpuset_cpus = ?self.cpuset_cpus,
-                enable_networking = self.enable_networking,
-                docker_runtime = ?self.docker_runtime,
-            )
-        )
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn create(self, workspace: &Workspace) -> Result<Container<'_>, CommandError> {
         let mut args: Vec<String> = vec!["create".into()];
 
@@ -726,7 +712,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for Container<'_> {
 }
 
 impl Container<'_> {
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn inspect(&self) -> Result<InspectContainer, CommandError> {
         let output = Command::new(self.workspace, "docker")
             .args(["inspect", self.id()])
@@ -741,7 +727,7 @@ impl Container<'_> {
     }
 
     /// Start the container in detached mode (without `-a`).
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn start(&self) -> Result<(), CommandError> {
         Command::new(self.workspace, "docker")
             .args(["start", self.id()])
@@ -770,10 +756,7 @@ impl Container<'_> {
     }
 
     #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments, clippy::type_complexity)]
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(skip_all, fields(container_id = %self.id(), capture))
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn run_command(
         &mut self,
         command: SandboxCommand,
@@ -846,7 +829,7 @@ impl Container<'_> {
     /// stored id is taken (so subsequent calls — including the one in
     /// [`Drop`] — are no-ops). On failure the id is restored so [`Drop`]
     /// (or a later call) can retry.
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn delete(&mut self) -> Result<(), CommandError> {
         let Some(id) = self.id.take() else {
             return Ok(());
@@ -969,24 +952,7 @@ impl<'w> Sandbox<'w> {
     }
 
     #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments, clippy::type_complexity)]
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(
-            skip_all,
-            fields(
-                image = %self.workspace.sandbox_image().name,
-                mounts = self.builder.mounts.len(),
-                memory_limit = ?self.builder.memory_limit,
-                cpu_limit = ?self.builder.cpu_limit,
-                cpuset_cpus = ?self.builder.cpuset_cpus,
-                enable_networking = self.builder.enable_networking,
-                docker_runtime = ?self.builder.docker_runtime,
-                capture,
-                timeout_secs = ?timeout.map(|timeout| timeout.as_secs()),
-                no_output_timeout_secs = ?no_output_timeout.map(|timeout| timeout.as_secs()),
-            )
-        )
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     pub(crate) fn run(
         &mut self,
         command: SandboxCommand,
diff --git a/src/crates/git.rs b/src/crates/git.rs
index c9663628..bfc24146 100644
--- a/src/crates/git.rs
+++ b/src/crates/git.rs
@@ -67,17 +67,15 @@ impl CrateTrait for GitRepo {
         feature = "tracing",
         tracing::instrument(
             skip_all,
-            fields(url = %self.url, cache_hit = tracing::field::Empty, path = tracing::field::Empty)
+            level = "debug",
+            fields(cache_hit = tracing::field::Empty)
         )
     )]
     fn fetch(&self, workspace: &Workspace) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let path = self.cached_path(workspace);
         let cache_hit = path.join("HEAD").is_file();
         #[cfg(feature = "tracing")]
-        {
-            tracing::Span::current().record("cache_hit", cache_hit);
-            tracing::Span::current().record("path", path.display().to_string());
-        }
+        tracing::Span::current().record("cache_hit", cache_hit);
 
         // The credential helper that suppresses the password prompt shows this message when a
         // repository requires authentication:
@@ -127,10 +125,7 @@ impl CrateTrait for GitRepo {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(skip_all, fields(url = %self.url, dest = %dest.display()))
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn copy_source_to(&self, workspace: &Workspace, dest: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         Command::new(workspace, "git")
             .args(["clone"])
diff --git a/src/crates/local.rs b/src/crates/local.rs
index 796da008..091812f9 100644
--- a/src/crates/local.rs
+++ b/src/crates/local.rs
@@ -25,13 +25,7 @@ impl CrateTrait for Local {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(
-            skip_all,
-            fields(source = %self.path.display(), dest = %dest.display())
-        )
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn copy_source_to(&self, _workspace: &Workspace, dest: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         info!(
             "copying local crate from {} to {}",
diff --git a/src/crates/registry.rs b/src/crates/registry.rs
index 68e2c782..4a58fd25 100644
--- a/src/crates/registry.rs
+++ b/src/crates/registry.rs
@@ -96,17 +96,7 @@ impl RegistryCrate {
     }
 
     #[allow(unused_variables)]
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(
-            skip_all,
-            fields(
-                registry = %self.registry.name(),
-                crate_name = %self.name,
-                version = %self.version,
-            )
-        )
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn fetch_url(&self, workspace: &Workspace) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
         match &self.registry {
             Registry::CratesIo => Ok(format!(
@@ -175,12 +165,8 @@ impl CrateTrait for RegistryCrate {
         feature = "tracing",
         tracing::instrument(
             skip_all,
-            fields(
-                registry = %self.registry.name(),
-                crate_name = %self.name,
-                version = %self.version,
-                cache_hit = tracing::field::Empty,
-            )
+            level = "debug",
+            fields(cache_hit = tracing::field::Empty)
         )
     )]
     fn fetch(&self, workspace: &Workspace) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
@@ -219,18 +205,7 @@ impl CrateTrait for RegistryCrate {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(
-            skip_all,
-            fields(
-                registry = %self.registry.name(),
-                crate_name = %self.name,
-                version = %self.version,
-                dest = %dest.display(),
-            )
-        )
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn copy_source_to(&self, workspace: &Workspace, dest: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let cached = self.cache_path(workspace);
         let mut file = File::open(cached)?;
diff --git a/src/prepare.rs b/src/prepare.rs
index 10e75159..cf778ce4 100644
--- a/src/prepare.rs
+++ b/src/prepare.rs
@@ -33,18 +33,7 @@ impl<'a> Prepare<'a> {
         }
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(
-            skip_all,
-            fields(
-                krate = %self.krate,
-                toolchain = %self.toolchain,
-                source_dir = %self.source_dir.display(),
-                patches = self.patches.len(),
-            )
-        )
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     pub(crate) fn prepare(&mut self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         self.krate.copy_source_to(self.workspace, self.source_dir)?;
         self.remove_override_files()?;
@@ -56,7 +45,7 @@ impl<'a> Prepare<'a> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn validate_manifest(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         info!(
             "validating manifest of {} on toolchain {}",
@@ -80,7 +69,7 @@ impl<'a> Prepare<'a> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn remove_override_files(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let paths = [
             &Path::new(".cargo").join("config"),
@@ -98,7 +87,7 @@ impl<'a> Prepare<'a> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn tweak_toml(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let path = self.source_dir.join("Cargo.toml");
         let mut tweaker = TomlTweaker::new(self.krate, &path, &self.patches)?;
@@ -107,7 +96,7 @@ impl<'a> Prepare<'a> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn capture_lockfile(&mut self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         if self.source_dir.join("Cargo.lock").exists() {
             info!(
@@ -131,23 +120,13 @@ impl<'a> Prepare<'a> {
         run_command(cmd.current_directory(self.source_dir))
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn fetch_deps(&mut self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         fetch_deps(self.workspace, self.toolchain, self.source_dir, &[])
     }
 }
 
-#[cfg_attr(
-    feature = "tracing",
-    tracing::instrument(
-        skip_all,
-        fields(
-            toolchain = %toolchain,
-            source_dir = %source_dir.display(),
-            build_std_targets = fetch_build_std_targets.len(),
-        )
-    )
-)]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
 pub(crate) fn fetch_deps(
     workspace: &Workspace,
     toolchain: &Toolchain,
diff --git a/src/toolchain.rs b/src/toolchain.rs
index 75e1f187..ce70afc2 100644
--- a/src/toolchain.rs
+++ b/src/toolchain.rs
@@ -307,13 +307,7 @@ impl Toolchain {
         self.list_rustup_things(workspace, RustupThing::Target)
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(
-            skip_all,
-            fields(toolchain = %self, action = %action, thing = %thing, name)
-        )
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn change_rustup_thing(
         &self,
         workspace: &Workspace,
@@ -386,10 +380,7 @@ impl Toolchain {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(
-        feature = "tracing",
-        tracing::instrument(skip_all, fields(toolchain = %self, thing = %thing))
-    )]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn list_rustup_things(
         &self,
         workspace: &Workspace,
diff --git a/src/tools/mod.rs b/src/tools/mod.rs
index 97ea833b..d97c9b0a 100644
--- a/src/tools/mod.rs
+++ b/src/tools/mod.rs
@@ -46,10 +46,7 @@ trait Tool: Send + Sync {
     }
 }
 
-#[cfg_attr(
-    feature = "tracing",
-    tracing::instrument(skip_all, fields(fast_install))
-)]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
 pub(crate) fn install(workspace: &Workspace, fast_install: bool) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     for tool in INSTALLABLE_TOOLS {
         if tool.is_installed(workspace)? {
diff --git a/src/utils.rs b/src/utils.rs
index 3147e610..7392b9bb 100644
--- a/src/utils.rs
+++ b/src/utils.rs
@@ -73,10 +73,7 @@ pub(crate) fn remove_file(path: &Path) -> std::io::Result<()> {
     std::fs::remove_file(path).map_err(|error| crate::utils::improve_remove_error(error, path))
 }
 
-#[cfg_attr(
-    feature = "tracing",
-    tracing::instrument(skip_all, fields(path = %path.display()))
-)]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
 pub(crate) fn remove_dir_all(path: &Path) -> std::io::Result<()> {
     remove_dir_all::remove_dir_all(path)
         .map_err(|error| crate::utils::improve_remove_error(error, path))
diff --git a/src/workspace.rs b/src/workspace.rs
index 9e8c1bbd..5c6f5d8f 100644
--- a/src/workspace.rs
+++ b/src/workspace.rs
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ impl WorkspaceBuilder {
 
     /// Initialize the workspace. This will create all the necessary local files and fetch the rest from the network. It's
     /// not unexpected for this method to take minutes to run on slower network connections.
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument())]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
     pub fn init(self) -> anyhow::Result<Workspace> {
         std::fs::create_dir_all(&self.path).with_context(|| {
             format!(
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ impl Workspace {
         &self.inner.rustup_profile
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip(self)))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     fn init(&self, fast_init: bool) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         info!("installing tools required by rustwide");
         crate::tools::install(self, fast_init)?;
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ impl Workspace {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all))]
+    #[cfg_attr(feature = "tracing", tracing::instrument(skip_all, level = "debug"))]
     #[allow(clippy::unnecessary_wraps)] // hopefully we could actually catch the error here at some point
     fn update_cratesio_registry(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         // This nop cargo command is to update the registry so we don't have to do it for each