diff --git a/lib/levels.js b/lib/levels.js
index 67e6a99db..9bbd19ce2 100644
--- a/lib/levels.js
+++ b/lib/levels.js
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ function isStandardLevel (level, useOnlyCustomLevels) {
     case 'info':
     case 'debug':
     case 'trace':
+    case 'special':
       return true
     default:
       return false