diff --git a/python/gtsam/tests/test_logging_optimizer.py b/python/gtsam/tests/test_logging_optimizer.py
index 47eb32e7b..4ec782635 100644
--- a/python/gtsam/tests/test_logging_optimizer.py
+++ b/python/gtsam/tests/test_logging_optimizer.py
@@ -63,12 +63,14 @@ class TestOptimizeComet(GtsamTestCase):
         def hook(_, error):
             print(error)
 
-        # Only thing we require from optimizer is an iterate method
+        # Wrapper function sets the hook and calls optimizer.optimize() for us.
         gtsam_optimize(self.optimizer, self.params, hook)
 
         # Check that optimizing yields the identity.
         actual = self.optimizer.values()
         self.gtsamAssertEquals(actual.atRot3(KEY), self.expected, tol=1e-6)
+        self.assertEqual(self.capturedOutput.getvalue(),
+                         "0.020000000000000004\n0.010000000000000005\n0.010000000000000004\n")
 
     def test_lm_simple_printing(self):
         """Make sure we are properly terminating LM"""
@@ -79,6 +81,8 @@ class TestOptimizeComet(GtsamTestCase):
 
         actual = self.lmoptimizer.values()
         self.gtsamAssertEquals(actual.atRot3(KEY), self.expected, tol=1e-6)
+        self.assertEqual(self.capturedOutput.getvalue(),
+                         "0.020000000000000004\n0.010000000000249996\n0.009999999999999998\n")
 
     @unittest.skip("Not a test we want run every time, as needs comet.ml account")
     def test_comet(self):
diff --git a/python/gtsam/utils/logging_optimizer.py b/python/gtsam/utils/logging_optimizer.py
index 3d9175951..1e55ce990 100644
--- a/python/gtsam/utils/logging_optimizer.py
+++ b/python/gtsam/utils/logging_optimizer.py
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ def optimize(optimizer, check_convergence, hook):
     current_error = optimizer.error()
     hook(optimizer, current_error)
 
-    # Iterative loop
+    # Iterative loop.  Cannot use `params.iterationHook` because we don't have access to params
+    # (backwards compatibility issue).
     while True:
         # Do next iteration
         optimizer.iterate()
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ def optimize(optimizer, check_convergence, hook):
 def gtsam_optimize(optimizer,
                    params,
                    hook):
-    """ Given an optimizer and params, iterate until convergence.
+    """ Given an optimizer and its params, iterate until convergence.
         After each iteration, hook(optimizer) is called.
         After the function, use values and errors to get the result.
         Arguments:
@@ -43,10 +44,6 @@ def gtsam_optimize(optimizer,
                 params {NonlinearOptimizarParams} -- Nonlinear optimizer parameters
                 hook -- hook function to record the error
     """
-    def check_convergence(optimizer, current_error, new_error):
-        return (optimizer.iterations() >= params.getMaxIterations()) or (
-            gtsam.checkConvergence(params.getRelativeErrorTol(), params.getAbsoluteErrorTol(), params.getErrorTol(),
-                                   current_error, new_error)) or (
-            isinstance(optimizer, gtsam.LevenbergMarquardtOptimizer) and optimizer.lambda_() > params.getlambdaUpperBound())
-    optimize(optimizer, check_convergence, hook)
-    return optimizer.values()
+    hook(optimizer, optimizer.error()) # call once at start (backwards compatibility)
+    params.iterationHook = lambda iteration, error_before, error_after: hook(optimizer, error_after)
+    return optimizer.optimize()