diff --git a/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_cron.py b/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_cron.py
index e7b1a541f0c..4236caf8d7a 100644
--- a/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_cron.py
+++ b/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_cron.py
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ _intervalTypes = {
 }
 
 class ir_cron(osv.osv, netsvc.Agent):
+    """ This is the ORM object that periodically executes actions.
+        Note that we use the netsvc.Agent()._logger member.
+    """
     _name = "ir.cron"
     _order = 'name'
     _columns = {
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@ class ir_cron(osv.osv, netsvc.Agent):
         try:
             for this in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context):
                 str2tuple(this.args)
-        except:
+        except Exception:
             return False
         return True
 
@@ -90,8 +93,7 @@ class ir_cron(osv.osv, netsvc.Agent):
             try:
                 f(cr, uid, *args)
             except Exception, e:
-                self._logger.notifyChannel('timers', netsvc.LOG_ERROR, "Job call of self.pool.get('%s').%s(cr, uid, *%r) failed" % (model, func, args))
-                self._logger.notifyChannel('timers', netsvc.LOG_ERROR, tools.exception_to_unicode(e))
+                self._logger.exception("Job call of self.pool.get('%s').%s(cr, uid, *%r) failed" % (model, func, args))
 
 
     def _poolJobs(self, db_name, check=False):
@@ -135,9 +137,7 @@ class ir_cron(osv.osv, netsvc.Agent):
                 self.setAlarm(self._poolJobs, next_call, db_name, db_name)
 
         except Exception, ex:
-            logger = netsvc.Logger()
-            logger.notifyChannel('cron', netsvc.LOG_WARNING,
-                'Exception in cron:'+str(ex))
+            self._logger.warning('Exception in cron:', exc_info=True)
 
         finally:
             cr.commit()
diff --git a/bin/netsvc.py b/bin/netsvc.py
index 62b427d5eb1..c2360ae5ee7 100644
--- a/bin/netsvc.py
+++ b/bin/netsvc.py
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ class Agent(object):
     """
     __tasks = []
     __tasks_by_db = {}
-    _logger = Logger()
+    _logger = logging.getLogger('netsvc.agent')
 
     @classmethod
     def setAlarm(cls, function, timestamp, db_name, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ class Agent(object):
     @classmethod
     def cancel(cls, db_name):
         """Cancel all tasks for a given database. If None is passed, all tasks are cancelled"""
+        cls._logger.debug("Cancel timers for %s db", db_name or 'all')
         if db_name is None:
             cls.__tasks, cls.__tasks_by_db = [], {}
         else:
@@ -334,7 +335,7 @@ class Agent(object):
     @classmethod
     def runner(cls):
         """Neverending function (intended to be ran in a dedicated thread) that
-           checks every 60 seconds tasks to run.
+           checks every 60 seconds tasks to run. TODO: make configurable
         """
         current_thread = threading.currentThread()
         while True:
@@ -346,7 +347,7 @@ class Agent(object):
                     # null timestamp -> cancelled task
                     continue
                 current_thread.dbname = dbname   # hack hack
-                cls._logger.notifyChannel('timers', LOG_DEBUG, "Run %s.%s(*%r, **%r)" % (function.im_class.__name__, function.func_name, args, kwargs))
+                cls._logger.debug("Run %s.%s(*%s, **%s)", function.im_class.__name__, function.func_name, args, kwargs)
                 delattr(current_thread, 'dbname')
                 task_thread = threading.Thread(target=function, name='netsvc.Agent.task', args=args, kwargs=kwargs)
                 # force non-daemon task threads (the runner thread must be daemon, and this property is inherited by default)
@@ -362,7 +363,6 @@ agent_runner = threading.Thread(target=Agent.runner, name="netsvc.Agent.runner")
 agent_runner.setDaemon(True)
 agent_runner.start()
 
-
 import traceback
 
 class Server: