diff --git a/lib/winston/logger.js b/lib/winston/logger.js
index 58a64c221..49e6d4c29 100644
--- a/lib/winston/logger.js
+++ b/lib/winston/logger.js
@@ -120,25 +120,23 @@ Logger.prototype.extend = function (target) {
 // #### @callback {function} Continuation to respond to when complete.
 // Core logging method exposed to Winston. Metadata is optional.
 //
-Logger.prototype.log = function (level) {
+Logger.prototype.log = function (level, msg) {
   var self = this,
-      args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1),
-      msg = common.format(args),
       callback,
       meta;
 
-  if (args.length === 1) {
-    if (typeof args[0] === 'function') {
+  if (arguments.length === 3) {
+    if (typeof arguments[2] === 'function') {
       meta = {};
-      callback = args[0];
+      callback = arguments[2];
     }
-    else if (typeof args[0] === 'object') {
-      meta = args[0];
+    else if (typeof arguments[2] === 'object') {
+      meta = arguments[2];
     }
   }
-  else if (args.length === 2) {
-    meta = args[0];
-    callback = args[1];
+  else if (arguments.length === 4) {
+    meta = arguments[2];
+    callback = arguments[3];
   }
 
   // If we should pad for levels, do so
@@ -152,7 +150,7 @@ Logger.prototype.log = function (level) {
     }
     else if (self.emitErrs) {
       self.emit('error', err);
-    }
+    };
   }
 
   if (this.transports.length === 0) {
diff --git a/lib/winston/transports/console.js b/lib/winston/transports/console.js
index 2b8d88c3b..43cdee3b7 100644
--- a/lib/winston/transports/console.js
+++ b/lib/winston/transports/console.js
@@ -53,18 +53,14 @@ Console.prototype.name = 'console';
 // #### @callback {function} Continuation to respond to when complete.
 // Core logging method exposed to Winston. Metadata is optional.
 //
-Console.prototype.log = function (level) {
-  var self = this,
-    args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1),
-    msg = common.format(args),
-    meta = args[0],
-    callback = args[1],
-    output;
-
+Console.prototype.log = function (level, msg, meta, callback) {
   if (this.silent) {
     return callback(null, true);
   }
 
+  var self = this,
+      output;
+
   output = common.log({
     colorize:    this.colorize,
     json:        this.json,
diff --git a/lib/winston/transports/file.js b/lib/winston/transports/file.js
index 63261f0b4..7080e2872 100644
--- a/lib/winston/transports/file.js
+++ b/lib/winston/transports/file.js
@@ -97,19 +97,14 @@ File.prototype.name = 'file';
 // #### @callback {function} Continuation to respond to when complete.
 // Core logging method exposed to Winston. Metadata is optional.
 //
-File.prototype.log = function (level) {
-  var self = this,
-    args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1),
-    msg = common.format(args),
-    meta = args[0],
-    callback = args[1],
-    output;
-
+File.prototype.log = function (level, msg, meta, callback) {
   if (this.silent) {
     return callback(null, true);
   }
 
-  output = common.log({
+  var self = this;
+
+  var output = common.log({
     level:       level,
     message:     msg,
     meta:        meta,
diff --git a/lib/winston/transports/http.js b/lib/winston/transports/http.js
index e46a8805b..9b9c61dd1 100644
--- a/lib/winston/transports/http.js
+++ b/lib/winston/transports/http.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 var util = require('util'),
     winston = require('../../winston'),
-    common = require('../common'),
     request = require('request'),
     Stream = require('stream').Stream;
 
@@ -70,12 +69,8 @@ Http.prototype._request = function (options, callback) {
 // #### @callback {function} Continuation to respond to when complete.
 // Core logging method exposed to Winston. Metadata is optional.
 //
-Http.prototype.log = function (level) {
-  var self = this,
-    args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1),
-    msg = common.format(args),
-    meta = args[0],
-    callback = args[1];
+Http.prototype.log = function (level, msg, meta, callback) {
+  var self = this;
 
   if (typeof meta === 'function') {
     callback = meta;
diff --git a/lib/winston/transports/webhook.js b/lib/winston/transports/webhook.js
index 6512e4a50..34b4a35aa 100644
--- a/lib/winston/transports/webhook.js
+++ b/lib/winston/transports/webhook.js
@@ -62,18 +62,13 @@ Webhook.prototype.name = 'webhook';
 // #### @callback {function} Continuation to respond to when complete.
 // Core logging method exposed to Winston. Metadata is optional.
 //
-Webhook.prototype.log = function (level) {
-  var self = this,
-    args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1),
-    msg = common.format(args),
-    meta = args[0],
-    callback = args[1];
-
+Webhook.prototype.log = function (level, msg, meta, callback) {
   if (this.silent) {
     return callback(null, true);
   }
 
-  var meta = cycle.decycle(meta),
+  var self = this,
+      meta = cycle.decycle(meta),
       message = common.clone(meta),
       options,
       req;