diff --git a/core/dbt/events/functions.py b/core/dbt/events/functions.py
index 5d83c5cf735..a1ef7bf6244 100644
--- a/core/dbt/events/functions.py
+++ b/core/dbt/events/functions.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from dbt.events.types import Cli, Event, File, ShowException
 import dbt.flags as flags
 # TODO this will need to move eventually
-from dbt.logger import SECRET_ENV_PREFIX, make_log_dir_if_missing
+from dbt.logger import SECRET_ENV_PREFIX, make_log_dir_if_missing, GLOBAL_LOGGER
 import io
 from io import StringIO
 import json
@@ -206,6 +206,24 @@ def fire_event(e: Event) -> None:
     # explicitly checking the debug flag here so that potentially expensive-to-construct
     # log messages are not constructed if debug messages are never shown.
 
+    # backwards compatibility for plugins that require old logger (dbt-rpc)
+    if flags.ENABLE_LEGACY_LOGGER:
+        log_line = create_log_line(e, json_fmt=this.format_json, cli_dest=False)
+        level_tag = e.level_tag()
+        if level_tag == 'debug':
+            GLOBAL_LOGGER.debug(log_line)
+        elif level_tag == 'info':
+            GLOBAL_LOGGER.info(log_line)
+        elif level_tag == 'warn':
+            GLOBAL_LOGGER.warn(log_line)
+        elif level_tag == 'error':
+            GLOBAL_LOGGER.error(log_line)
+        else:
+            raise AssertionError(
+                f"While attempting to log {log_line}, encountered the unhandled level: {level_tag}"
+            )
+        return
+
     # always logs debug level regardless of user input
     if isinstance(e, File):
         log_line = create_log_line(e, json_fmt=this.format_json, cli_dest=False)
diff --git a/core/dbt/flags.py b/core/dbt/flags.py
index a05c7d0ecd8..ce46d0a15f4 100644
--- a/core/dbt/flags.py
+++ b/core/dbt/flags.py
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ def env_set_path(key: str) -> Optional[Path]:
 MACRO_DEBUGGING = env_set_truthy('DBT_MACRO_DEBUGGING')
 DEFER_MODE = env_set_truthy('DBT_DEFER_TO_STATE')
 ARTIFACT_STATE_PATH = env_set_path('DBT_ARTIFACT_STATE_PATH')
+ENABLE_LEGACY_LOGGER = env_set_truthy('DBT_ENABLE_LEGACY_LOGGER')
 
 
 def _get_context():
diff --git a/core/dbt/logger.py b/core/dbt/logger.py
index c11b6c8e6b3..9d8adbe5551 100644
--- a/core/dbt/logger.py
+++ b/core/dbt/logger.py
@@ -576,7 +576,8 @@ def log_cache_events(flag):
     CACHE_LOGGER.disabled = not flag
 
 
-logger.disable()
+if not dbt.flags.ENABLE_LEGACY_LOGGER:
+    logger.disable()
 GLOBAL_LOGGER = logger