diff --git a/scabha/evaluator.py b/scabha/evaluator.py
index 42ac41e..ee19cc8 100644
--- a/scabha/evaluator.py
+++ b/scabha/evaluator.py
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ def evaluate_dict(self, params: Dict[str, Any],
                     defaults: Dict[str, Any] = {}, 
                     sublocation = [],
                     raise_substitution_errors: bool = True, 
-                    recursive: bool = False,
+                    recursive: bool = True,
                     verbose: bool = False):
         params_out = params
         for name, value in list(params.items()):
@@ -625,6 +625,31 @@ def evaluate_dict(self, params: Dict[str, Any],
                         params_out[name] = new_value
                         if corresponding_ns:
                             corresponding_ns[name] = new_value
+                elif isinstance(value, (dict, DictConfig)) and recursive:
+                    params_out[name] = self.evaluate_dict(
+                        value,
+                        corresponding_ns,
+                        defaults,
+                        sublocation=sublocation + [name],
+                        raise_substitution_errors=raise_substitution_errors,
+                        recursive=True,
+                        verbose=verbose
+                    )
+                elif isinstance(value, (list, ListConfig)) and recursive:
+                    params_out[name] = type(value)(
+                        [
+                            *self.evaluate_dict(
+                                {f"[{i}]": v for i, v in enumerate(value)},
+                                corresponding_ns,
+                                defaults,
+                                sublocation=sublocation + [name],
+                                raise_substitution_errors=raise_substitution_errors,
+                                recursive=True,
+                                verbose=verbose
+                            ).values()
+                        ]
+                    )
+
         return params_out
 
 
diff --git a/stimela/stimelogging.py b/stimela/stimelogging.py
index c477957..2921687 100644
--- a/stimela/stimelogging.py
+++ b/stimela/stimelogging.py
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@ def update_file_logger(log: logging.Logger, logopts: DictConfig, nesting: int =
         setup_file_logger(log, path, level=logopts.level, symlink=logopts.symlink)
     else:
         disable_file_logger(log)
+        log.propagate = True
 
 
 def get_logfile_dir(log: logging.Logger):