diff --git a/src/handler.ts b/src/handler.ts
index c75db06..24ff076 100644
--- a/src/handler.ts
+++ b/src/handler.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export class Handler extends Filterer {
     }
 
     get level(): number { return this._level }
-    set level(level: LogLevel|string) { this.level = checkLevel(level) }
+    set level(level: LogLevel|string) { this._level = checkLevel(level) }
 
     get scope(): string|null { return this._scope }
     set scope(scope: string) { this._scope = scope }
@@ -90,11 +90,9 @@ export class Handler extends Filterer {
      * If a formatter is set, use it. Otherwise, use the default formatter for
      * the module.
      */
-    format(record: LogRecord) {
-        var fmt: Formatter|null = null;
-
-        if (this.formatter) { fmt = this.formatter }
-        else { fmt = DEFAULT_FORMATTER }
+    format(record: LogRecord): string {
+        const fmt = this.formatter ?? DEFAULT_FORMATTER;
+        return fmt.format(record);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -159,6 +157,7 @@ export class Handler extends Filterer {
         )
     }
 
+    get formatter(): Formatter|null { return this._formatter }
     set formatter(fmt: Formatter) { this._formatter = fmt }
 }