diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index ff23150..dee4eb2 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   - 1.3
   - 1.4
   - 1.5
+  - 1.6
   - tip
 install:
   - go get -t ./...
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6e1721a..ab48929 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@
 | [Rollrus](https://github.com/heroku/rollrus) | Hook for sending errors to rollbar |
 | [Fluentd](https://github.com/evalphobia/logrus_fluent) | Hook for logging to fluentd |
 | [Mongodb](https://github.com/weekface/mgorus) | Hook for logging to mongodb |
+| [Influxus] (http://github.com/vlad-doru/influxus) | Hook for concurrently logging to [InfluxDB] (http://influxdata.com/) |
 | [InfluxDB](https://github.com/Abramovic/logrus_influxdb) | Hook for logging to influxdb |
 | [Octokit](https://github.com/dorajistyle/logrus-octokit-hook) | Hook for logging to github via octokit |
 | [DeferPanic](https://github.com/deferpanic/dp-logrus) | Hook for logging to DeferPanic |
@@ -226,6 +227,9 @@
 | [KafkaLogrus](https://github.com/goibibo/KafkaLogrus) | Hook for logging to kafka |
 | [Typetalk](https://github.com/dragon3/logrus-typetalk-hook) | Hook for logging to [Typetalk](https://www.typetalk.in/) |
 | [ElasticSearch](https://github.com/sohlich/elogrus) | Hook for logging to ElasticSearch|
+| [Sumorus](https://github.com/doublefree/sumorus) | Hook for logging to [SumoLogic](https://www.sumologic.com/)|
+| [Logstash](https://github.com/bshuster-repo/logrus-logstash-hook) | Hook for logging to [Logstash](https://www.elastic.co/products/logstash) |
+| [Logmatic.io](https://github.com/logmatic/logmatic-go) | Hook for logging to [Logmatic.io](http://logmatic.io/) |
 
 
 #### Level logging
@@ -304,14 +308,10 @@
     field to `true`.  To force no colored output even if there is a TTY  set the
     `DisableColors` field to `true`
 * `logrus.JSONFormatter`. Logs fields as JSON.
-* `logrus/formatters/logstash.LogstashFormatter`. Logs fields as [Logstash](http://logstash.net) Events.
-
-    ```go
-      logrus.SetFormatter(&logstash.LogstashFormatter{Type: "application_name"})
-    ```
 
 Third party logging formatters:
 
+* [`logstash`](https://github.com/bshuster-repo/logrus-logstash-hook). Logs fields as [Logstash](http://logstash.net) Events.
 * [`prefixed`](https://github.com/x-cray/logrus-prefixed-formatter). Displays log entry source along with alternative layout.
 * [`zalgo`](https://github.com/aybabtme/logzalgo). Invoking the P͉̫o̳̼̊w̖͈̰͎e̬͔̭͂r͚̼̹̲ ̫͓͉̳͈ō̠͕͖̚f̝͍̠ ͕̲̞͖͑Z̖̫̤̫ͪa͉̬͈̗l͖͎g̳̥o̰̥̅!̣͔̲̻͊̄ ̙̘̦̹̦.
 
@@ -386,3 +386,36 @@
 hook.Reset()
 assert.Nil(hook.LastEntry())
 ```
+
+#### Fatal handlers
+
+Logrus can register one or more functions that will be called when any `fatal`
+level message is logged. The registered handlers will be executed before
+logrus performs a `os.Exit(1)`. This behavior may be helpful if callers need
+to gracefully shutdown. Unlike a `panic("Something went wrong...")` call which can be intercepted with a deferred `recover` a call to `os.Exit(1)` can not be intercepted.
+
+```
+...
+handler := func() {
+  // gracefully shutdown something...
+}
+logrus.RegisterExitHandler(handler)
+...
+```
+
+#### Thread safty
+
+By default Logger is protected by mutex for concurrent writes, this mutex is invoked when calling hooks and writing logs.
+If you are sure such locking is not needed, you can call logger.SetNoLock() to disable the locking.
+
+Situation when locking is not needed includes:
+
+* You have no hooks registered, or hooks calling is already thread-safe.
+
+* Writing to logger.Out is already thread-safe, for example:
+
+  1) logger.Out is protected by locks.
+
+  2) logger.Out is a os.File handler opened with `O_APPEND` flag, and every write is smaller than 4k. (This allow multi-thread/multi-process writing)
+
+     (Refer to http://www.notthewizard.com/2014/06/17/are-files-appends-really-atomic/)
diff --git a/alt_exit.go b/alt_exit.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4c9e84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alt_exit.go
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package logrus
+
+// The following code was sourced and modified from the
+// https://bitbucket.org/tebeka/atexit package governed by the following license:
+//
+// Copyright (c) 2012 Miki Tebeka <miki.tebeka@gmail.com>.
+//
+// Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
+// this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
+// the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to
+// use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of
+// the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
+// subject to the following conditions:
+//
+// The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+// copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+//
+// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+// IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
+// FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR
+// COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER
+// IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN
+// CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+)
+
+var handlers = []func(){}
+
+func runHandler(handler func()) {
+	defer func() {
+		if err := recover(); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Error: Logrus exit handler error:", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	handler()
+}
+
+func runHandlers() {
+	for _, handler := range handlers {
+		runHandler(handler)
+	}
+}
+
+// Exit runs all the Logrus atexit handlers and then terminates the program using os.Exit(code)
+func Exit(code int) {
+	runHandlers()
+	os.Exit(code)
+}
+
+// RegisterExitHandler adds a Logrus Exit handler, call logrus.Exit to invoke
+// all handlers. The handlers will also be invoked when any Fatal log entry is
+// made.
+//
+// This method is useful when a caller wishes to use logrus to log a fatal
+// message but also needs to gracefully shutdown. An example usecase could be
+// closing database connections, or sending a alert that the application is
+// closing.
+func RegisterExitHandler(handler func()) {
+	handlers = append(handlers, handler)
+}
diff --git a/alt_exit_test.go b/alt_exit_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..022b778
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alt_exit_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+package logrus
+
+import (
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os/exec"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestRegister(t *testing.T) {
+	current := len(handlers)
+	RegisterExitHandler(func() {})
+	if len(handlers) != current+1 {
+		t.Fatalf("can't add handler")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHandler(t *testing.T) {
+	gofile := "/tmp/testprog.go"
+	if err := ioutil.WriteFile(gofile, testprog, 0666); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("can't create go file")
+	}
+
+	outfile := "/tmp/testprog.out"
+	arg := time.Now().UTC().String()
+	err := exec.Command("go", "run", gofile, outfile, arg).Run()
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("completed normally, should have failed")
+	}
+
+	data, err := ioutil.ReadFile(outfile)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("can't read output file %s", outfile)
+	}
+
+	if string(data) != arg {
+		t.Fatalf("bad data")
+	}
+}
+
+var testprog = []byte(`
+// Test program for atexit, gets output file and data as arguments and writes
+// data to output file in atexit handler.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+)
+
+var outfile = ""
+var data = ""
+
+func handler() {
+	ioutil.WriteFile(outfile, []byte(data), 0666)
+}
+
+func badHandler() {
+	n := 0
+	fmt.Println(1/n)
+}
+
+func main() {
+	flag.Parse()
+	outfile = flag.Arg(0)
+	data = flag.Arg(1)
+
+	logrus.RegisterExitHandler(handler)
+	logrus.RegisterExitHandler(badHandler)
+	logrus.Fatal("Bye bye")
+}
+`)
diff --git a/entry.go b/entry.go
index 89e966e..4edbe7a 100644
--- a/entry.go
+++ b/entry.go
@@ -3,11 +3,21 @@
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"os"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
 
+var bufferPool *sync.Pool
+
+func init() {
+	bufferPool = &sync.Pool{
+		New: func() interface{} {
+			return new(bytes.Buffer)
+		},
+	}
+}
+
 // Defines the key when adding errors using WithError.
 var ErrorKey = "error"
 
@@ -29,6 +39,9 @@
 
 	// Message passed to Debug, Info, Warn, Error, Fatal or Panic
 	Message string
+
+	// When formatter is called in entry.log(), an Buffer may be set to entry
+	Buffer *bytes.Buffer
 }
 
 func NewEntry(logger *Logger) *Entry {
@@ -39,21 +52,15 @@
 	}
 }
 
-// Returns a reader for the entry, which is a proxy to the formatter.
-func (entry *Entry) Reader() (*bytes.Buffer, error) {
-	serialized, err := entry.Logger.Formatter.Format(entry)
-	return bytes.NewBuffer(serialized), err
-}
-
 // Returns the string representation from the reader and ultimately the
 // formatter.
 func (entry *Entry) String() (string, error) {
-	reader, err := entry.Reader()
+	serialized, err := entry.Logger.Formatter.Format(entry)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-
-	return reader.String(), err
+	str := string(serialized)
+	return str, nil
 }
 
 // Add an error as single field (using the key defined in ErrorKey) to the Entry.
@@ -81,6 +88,7 @@
 // This function is not declared with a pointer value because otherwise
 // race conditions will occur when using multiple goroutines
 func (entry Entry) log(level Level, msg string) {
+	var buffer *bytes.Buffer
 	entry.Time = time.Now()
 	entry.Level = level
 	entry.Message = msg
@@ -90,20 +98,23 @@
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Failed to fire hook: %v\n", err)
 		entry.Logger.mu.Unlock()
 	}
-
-	reader, err := entry.Reader()
+	buffer = bufferPool.Get().(*bytes.Buffer)
+	buffer.Reset()
+	defer bufferPool.Put(buffer)
+	entry.Buffer = buffer
+	serialized, err := entry.Logger.Formatter.Format(&entry)
+	entry.Buffer = nil
 	if err != nil {
 		entry.Logger.mu.Lock()
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Failed to obtain reader, %v\n", err)
 		entry.Logger.mu.Unlock()
-	}
-
-	entry.Logger.mu.Lock()
-	defer entry.Logger.mu.Unlock()
-
-	_, err = io.Copy(entry.Logger.Out, reader)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Failed to write to log, %v\n", err)
+	} else {
+		entry.Logger.mu.Lock()
+		_, err = entry.Logger.Out.Write(serialized)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Failed to write to log, %v\n", err)
+		}
+		entry.Logger.mu.Unlock()
 	}
 
 	// To avoid Entry#log() returning a value that only would make sense for
@@ -150,7 +161,7 @@
 	if entry.Logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
 		entry.log(FatalLevel, fmt.Sprint(args...))
 	}
-	os.Exit(1)
+	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Panic(args ...interface{}) {
@@ -198,7 +209,7 @@
 	if entry.Logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
 		entry.Fatal(fmt.Sprintf(format, args...))
 	}
-	os.Exit(1)
+	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Panicf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
@@ -245,7 +256,7 @@
 	if entry.Logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
 		entry.Fatal(entry.sprintlnn(args...))
 	}
-	os.Exit(1)
+	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (entry *Entry) Panicln(args ...interface{}) {
diff --git a/formatter.go b/formatter.go
index 104d689..b5fbe93 100644
--- a/formatter.go
+++ b/formatter.go
@@ -31,18 +31,15 @@
 // It's not exported because it's still using Data in an opinionated way. It's to
 // avoid code duplication between the two default formatters.
 func prefixFieldClashes(data Fields) {
-	_, ok := data["time"]
-	if ok {
-		data["fields.time"] = data["time"]
+	if t, ok := data["time"]; ok {
+		data["fields.time"] = t
 	}
 
-	_, ok = data["msg"]
-	if ok {
-		data["fields.msg"] = data["msg"]
+	if m, ok := data["msg"]; ok {
+		data["fields.msg"] = m
 	}
 
-	_, ok = data["level"]
-	if ok {
-		data["fields.level"] = data["level"]
+	if l, ok := data["level"]; ok {
+		data["fields.level"] = l
 	}
 }
diff --git a/formatters/logstash/logstash.go b/formatters/logstash/logstash.go
deleted file mode 100644
index aad646a..0000000
--- a/formatters/logstash/logstash.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-package logstash
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"fmt"
-
-	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
-)
-
-// Formatter generates json in logstash format.
-// Logstash site: http://logstash.net/
-type LogstashFormatter struct {
-	Type string // if not empty use for logstash type field.
-
-	// TimestampFormat sets the format used for timestamps.
-	TimestampFormat string
-}
-
-func (f *LogstashFormatter) Format(entry *logrus.Entry) ([]byte, error) {
-	fields := make(logrus.Fields)
-	for k, v := range entry.Data {
-		fields[k] = v
-	}
-
-	fields["@version"] = 1
-
-	if f.TimestampFormat == "" {
-		f.TimestampFormat = logrus.DefaultTimestampFormat
-	}
-
-	fields["@timestamp"] = entry.Time.Format(f.TimestampFormat)
-
-	// set message field
-	v, ok := entry.Data["message"]
-	if ok {
-		fields["fields.message"] = v
-	}
-	fields["message"] = entry.Message
-
-	// set level field
-	v, ok = entry.Data["level"]
-	if ok {
-		fields["fields.level"] = v
-	}
-	fields["level"] = entry.Level.String()
-
-	// set type field
-	if f.Type != "" {
-		v, ok = entry.Data["type"]
-		if ok {
-			fields["fields.type"] = v
-		}
-		fields["type"] = f.Type
-	}
-
-	serialized, err := json.Marshal(fields)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to marshal fields to JSON, %v", err)
-	}
-	return append(serialized, '\n'), nil
-}
diff --git a/formatters/logstash/logstash_test.go b/formatters/logstash/logstash_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index d8814a0..0000000
--- a/formatters/logstash/logstash_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-package logstash
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"encoding/json"
-	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"testing"
-)
-
-func TestLogstashFormatter(t *testing.T) {
-	assert := assert.New(t)
-
-	lf := LogstashFormatter{Type: "abc"}
-
-	fields := logrus.Fields{
-		"message": "def",
-		"level":   "ijk",
-		"type":    "lmn",
-		"one":     1,
-		"pi":      3.14,
-		"bool":    true,
-	}
-
-	entry := logrus.WithFields(fields)
-	entry.Message = "msg"
-	entry.Level = logrus.InfoLevel
-
-	b, _ := lf.Format(entry)
-
-	var data map[string]interface{}
-	dec := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(b))
-	dec.UseNumber()
-	dec.Decode(&data)
-
-	// base fields
-	assert.Equal(json.Number("1"), data["@version"])
-	assert.NotEmpty(data["@timestamp"])
-	assert.Equal("abc", data["type"])
-	assert.Equal("msg", data["message"])
-	assert.Equal("info", data["level"])
-
-	// substituted fields
-	assert.Equal("def", data["fields.message"])
-	assert.Equal("ijk", data["fields.level"])
-	assert.Equal("lmn", data["fields.type"])
-
-	// formats
-	assert.Equal(json.Number("1"), data["one"])
-	assert.Equal(json.Number("3.14"), data["pi"])
-	assert.Equal(true, data["bool"])
-}
diff --git a/logger.go b/logger.go
index 2fdb231..b769f3d 100644
--- a/logger.go
+++ b/logger.go
@@ -26,8 +26,31 @@
 	// to) `logrus.Info`, which allows Info(), Warn(), Error() and Fatal() to be
 	// logged. `logrus.Debug` is useful in
 	Level Level
-	// Used to sync writing to the log.
-	mu sync.Mutex
+	// Used to sync writing to the log. Locking is enabled by Default
+	mu MutexWrap
+	// Reusable empty entry
+	entryPool sync.Pool
+}
+
+type MutexWrap struct {
+	lock     sync.Mutex
+	disabled bool
+}
+
+func (mw *MutexWrap) Lock() {
+	if !mw.disabled {
+		mw.lock.Lock()
+	}
+}
+
+func (mw *MutexWrap) Unlock() {
+	if !mw.disabled {
+		mw.lock.Unlock()
+	}
+}
+
+func (mw *MutexWrap) Disable() {
+	mw.disabled = true
 }
 
 // Creates a new logger. Configuration should be set by changing `Formatter`,
@@ -51,162 +74,235 @@
 	}
 }
 
-// Adds a field to the log entry, note that you it doesn't log until you call
+func (logger *Logger) newEntry() *Entry {
+	entry, ok := logger.entryPool.Get().(*Entry)
+	if ok {
+		return entry
+	}
+	return NewEntry(logger)
+}
+
+func (logger *Logger) releaseEntry(entry *Entry) {
+	logger.entryPool.Put(entry)
+}
+
+// Adds a field to the log entry, note that it doesn't log until you call
 // Debug, Print, Info, Warn, Fatal or Panic. It only creates a log entry.
 // If you want multiple fields, use `WithFields`.
 func (logger *Logger) WithField(key string, value interface{}) *Entry {
-	return NewEntry(logger).WithField(key, value)
+	entry := logger.newEntry()
+	defer logger.releaseEntry(entry)
+	return entry.WithField(key, value)
 }
 
 // Adds a struct of fields to the log entry. All it does is call `WithField` for
 // each `Field`.
 func (logger *Logger) WithFields(fields Fields) *Entry {
-	return NewEntry(logger).WithFields(fields)
+	entry := logger.newEntry()
+	defer logger.releaseEntry(entry)
+	return entry.WithFields(fields)
 }
 
 // Add an error as single field to the log entry.  All it does is call
 // `WithError` for the given `error`.
 func (logger *Logger) WithError(err error) *Entry {
-	return NewEntry(logger).WithError(err)
+	entry := logger.newEntry()
+	defer logger.releaseEntry(entry)
+	return entry.WithError(err)
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Debugf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Debugf(format, args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Debugf(format, args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Infof(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Infof(format, args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Infof(format, args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Printf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	NewEntry(logger).Printf(format, args...)
+	entry := logger.newEntry()
+	entry.Printf(format, args...)
+	logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warnf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Warnf(format, args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Warnf(format, args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warningf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Warnf(format, args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Warnf(format, args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Errorf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Errorf(format, args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Errorf(format, args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Fatalf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Fatalf(format, args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Fatalf(format, args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
-	os.Exit(1)
+	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Panicf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Panicf(format, args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Panicf(format, args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Debug(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Debug(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Debug(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Info(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Info(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Info(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Print(args ...interface{}) {
-	NewEntry(logger).Info(args...)
+	entry := logger.newEntry()
+	entry.Info(args...)
+	logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warn(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Warn(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Warn(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warning(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Warn(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Warn(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Error(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Error(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Error(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Fatal(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Fatal(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Fatal(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
-	os.Exit(1)
+	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Panic(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Panic(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Panic(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Debugln(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= DebugLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Debugln(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Debugln(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Infoln(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= InfoLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Infoln(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Infoln(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Println(args ...interface{}) {
-	NewEntry(logger).Println(args...)
+	entry := logger.newEntry()
+	entry.Println(args...)
+	logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warnln(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Warnln(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Warnln(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Warningln(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= WarnLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Warnln(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Warnln(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Errorln(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= ErrorLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Errorln(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Errorln(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Fatalln(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= FatalLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Fatalln(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Fatalln(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
-	os.Exit(1)
+	Exit(1)
 }
 
 func (logger *Logger) Panicln(args ...interface{}) {
 	if logger.Level >= PanicLevel {
-		NewEntry(logger).Panicln(args...)
+		entry := logger.newEntry()
+		entry.Panicln(args...)
+		logger.releaseEntry(entry)
 	}
 }
+
+//When file is opened with appending mode, it's safe to
+//write concurrently to a file (within 4k message on Linux).
+//In these cases user can choose to disable the lock.
+func (logger *Logger) SetNoLock() {
+	logger.mu.Disable()
+}
diff --git a/logger_bench_test.go b/logger_bench_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd23a35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/logger_bench_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package logrus
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// smallFields is a small size data set for benchmarking
+var loggerFields = Fields{
+	"foo":   "bar",
+	"baz":   "qux",
+	"one":   "two",
+	"three": "four",
+}
+
+func BenchmarkDummyLogger(b *testing.B) {
+	nullf, err := os.OpenFile("/dev/null", os.O_WRONLY, 0666)
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatalf("%v", err)
+	}
+	defer nullf.Close()
+	doLoggerBenchmark(b, nullf, &TextFormatter{DisableColors: true}, smallFields)
+}
+
+func BenchmarkDummyLoggerNoLock(b *testing.B) {
+	nullf, err := os.OpenFile("/dev/null", os.O_WRONLY|os.O_APPEND, 0666)
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatalf("%v", err)
+	}
+	defer nullf.Close()
+	doLoggerBenchmarkNoLock(b, nullf, &TextFormatter{DisableColors: true}, smallFields)
+}
+
+func doLoggerBenchmark(b *testing.B, out *os.File, formatter Formatter, fields Fields) {
+	logger := Logger{
+		Out:       out,
+		Level:     InfoLevel,
+		Formatter: formatter,
+	}
+	entry := logger.WithFields(fields)
+	b.RunParallel(func(pb *testing.PB) {
+		for pb.Next() {
+			entry.Info("aaa")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func doLoggerBenchmarkNoLock(b *testing.B, out *os.File, formatter Formatter, fields Fields) {
+	logger := Logger{
+		Out:       out,
+		Level:     InfoLevel,
+		Formatter: formatter,
+	}
+	logger.SetNoLock()
+	entry := logger.WithFields(fields)
+	b.RunParallel(func(pb *testing.PB) {
+		for pb.Next() {
+			entry.Info("aaa")
+		}
+	})
+}
diff --git a/text_formatter.go b/text_formatter.go
index 06ef202..cce61f2 100644
--- a/text_formatter.go
+++ b/text_formatter.go
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 }
 
 func (f *TextFormatter) Format(entry *Entry) ([]byte, error) {
+	var b *bytes.Buffer
 	var keys []string = make([]string, 0, len(entry.Data))
 	for k := range entry.Data {
 		keys = append(keys, k)
@@ -65,8 +66,11 @@
 	if !f.DisableSorting {
 		sort.Strings(keys)
 	}
-
-	b := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	if entry.Buffer != nil {
+		b = entry.Buffer
+	} else {
+		b = &bytes.Buffer{}
+	}
 
 	prefixFieldClashes(entry.Data)
 
@@ -128,10 +132,10 @@
 			(ch >= 'A' && ch <= 'Z') ||
 			(ch >= '0' && ch <= '9') ||
 			ch == '-' || ch == '.') {
-			return false
+			return true
 		}
 	}
-	return true
+	return false
 }
 
 func (f *TextFormatter) appendKeyValue(b *bytes.Buffer, key string, value interface{}) {
@@ -141,14 +145,14 @@
 
 	switch value := value.(type) {
 	case string:
-		if needsQuoting(value) {
+		if !needsQuoting(value) {
 			b.WriteString(value)
 		} else {
 			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%q", value)
 		}
 	case error:
 		errmsg := value.Error()
-		if needsQuoting(errmsg) {
+		if !needsQuoting(errmsg) {
 			b.WriteString(errmsg)
 		} else {
 			fmt.Fprintf(b, "%q", value)
diff --git a/writer.go b/writer.go
index 1e30b1c..f74d2aa 100644
--- a/writer.go
+++ b/writer.go
@@ -7,18 +7,40 @@
 )
 
 func (logger *Logger) Writer() *io.PipeWriter {
+	return logger.WriterLevel(InfoLevel)
+}
+
+func (logger *Logger) WriterLevel(level Level) *io.PipeWriter {
 	reader, writer := io.Pipe()
 
-	go logger.writerScanner(reader)
+	var printFunc func(args ...interface{})
+	switch level {
+	case DebugLevel:
+		printFunc = logger.Debug
+	case InfoLevel:
+		printFunc = logger.Info
+	case WarnLevel:
+		printFunc = logger.Warn
+	case ErrorLevel:
+		printFunc = logger.Error
+	case FatalLevel:
+		printFunc = logger.Fatal
+	case PanicLevel:
+		printFunc = logger.Panic
+	default:
+		printFunc = logger.Print
+	}
+
+	go logger.writerScanner(reader, printFunc)
 	runtime.SetFinalizer(writer, writerFinalizer)
 
 	return writer
 }
 
-func (logger *Logger) writerScanner(reader *io.PipeReader) {
+func (logger *Logger) writerScanner(reader *io.PipeReader, printFunc func(args ...interface{})) {
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(reader)
 	for scanner.Scan() {
-		logger.Print(scanner.Text())
+		printFunc(scanner.Text())
 	}
 	if err := scanner.Err(); err != nil {
 		logger.Errorf("Error while reading from Writer: %s", err)