diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3b98ef8..1392755 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -107,6 +107,20 @@ For single-point runs such as ripple tests, populate a `config_t` instance, call
 
 When spline mode is active the `M_t`, `vth`, `qi`, and `mi` values come from the supplied plasma/profile data and overwrite any prior config settings, so reset them if you later switch back to the config-only workflow.
 
+## Examples
+
+The `examples/` directory contains ready-to-run input decks. To run the base example:
+
+```bash
+make examples-base
+```
+
+To list all available examples:
+
+```bash
+make examples-list
+```
+
 ## Testing
 
 Regression and unit tests are provided for both the Fortran and Python components. After building the solver, run
diff --git a/examples/Makefile b/examples/Makefile
index 978bef6..62b61f4 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile
+++ b/examples/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ example_value = $($(call example_var,$1,$2))
 examples-list:
 	@printf "Available examples: %s\n" "$(EXAMPLE_TARGETS)"
 
-examples-%: build | $(NEO_RT_BIN)
+examples-%: build
 	$(call run_example,$*)
 
 # Internal helper: run a single example by name.
diff --git a/examples/base/driftorbit.in b/examples/base/driftorbit.in
index 3529099..159e79b 100644
--- a/examples/base/driftorbit.in
+++ b/examples/base/driftorbit.in
@@ -20,4 +20,5 @@
     efac = 1.0             ! scale E field by factor
     inp_swi = 8            ! input switch for Boozer file
     vsteps = 256           ! integration steps in velocity space
+    log_level = 3          ! log level (0=result, 1=error, 2=warn, 3=info, 4=debug, 5=trace)
 /
diff --git a/src/config.f90 b/src/config.f90
index 05a4379..3f97062 100644
--- a/src/config.f90
+++ b/src/config.f90
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ subroutine read_and_set_config(config_file)
 
         character(len=*), intent(in) :: config_file
         real(dp) :: qs, ms
-        integer :: log_level
+        integer :: log_level = 0
 
         namelist /params/ s, M_t, qs, ms, vth, epsmn, m0, mph, comptorque, magdrift, &
             nopassing, noshear, pertfile, nonlin, bfac, efac, inp_swi, vsteps, log_level