diff --git a/caddyhttp/errors/errors.go b/caddyhttp/errors/errors.go
index e60602952..a3412ce50 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/errors/errors.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/errors/errors.go
@@ -4,12 +4,10 @@ package errors
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
-	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy"
@@ -28,12 +26,8 @@ type ErrorHandler struct {
 	Next             httpserver.Handler
 	GenericErrorPage string         // default error page filename
 	ErrorPages       map[int]string // map of status code to filename
-	LogFile          string
-	Log              *log.Logger
-	LogRoller        *httpserver.LogRoller
-	Debug            bool          // if true, errors are written out to client rather than to a log
-	file             *os.File      // a log file to close when done
-	fileMu           *sync.RWMutex // like with log middleware, os.File can't "safely" be closed in a different goroutine
+	Log              *httpserver.Logger
+	Debug            bool // if true, errors are written out to client rather than to a log
 }
 
 func (h ErrorHandler) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (int, error) {
@@ -50,9 +44,7 @@ func (h ErrorHandler) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (int, er
 			fmt.Fprintln(w, errMsg)
 			return 0, err // returning 0 signals that a response has been written
 		}
-		h.fileMu.RLock()
 		h.Log.Println(errMsg)
-		h.fileMu.RUnlock()
 	}
 
 	if status >= 400 {
@@ -73,10 +65,8 @@ func (h ErrorHandler) errorPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, code int
 		errorPage, err := os.Open(pagePath)
 		if err != nil {
 			// An additional error handling an error... <insert grumpy cat here>
-			h.fileMu.RLock()
 			h.Log.Printf("%s [NOTICE %d %s] could not load error page: %v",
 				time.Now().Format(timeFormat), code, r.URL.String(), err)
-			h.fileMu.RUnlock()
 			httpserver.DefaultErrorFunc(w, r, code)
 			return
 		}
@@ -89,10 +79,8 @@ func (h ErrorHandler) errorPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, code int
 
 		if err != nil {
 			// Epic fail... sigh.
-			h.fileMu.RLock()
 			h.Log.Printf("%s [NOTICE %d %s] could not respond with %s: %v",
 				time.Now().Format(timeFormat), code, r.URL.String(), pagePath, err)
-			h.fileMu.RUnlock()
 			httpserver.DefaultErrorFunc(w, r, code)
 		}
 
@@ -154,9 +142,7 @@ func (h ErrorHandler) recovery(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		httpserver.WriteTextResponse(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, fmt.Sprintf("%s\n\n%s", panicMsg, stack))
 	} else {
 		// Currently we don't use the function name, since file:line is more conventional
-		h.fileMu.RLock()
 		h.Log.Printf(panicMsg)
-		h.fileMu.RUnlock()
 		h.errorPage(w, r, http.StatusInternalServerError)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/caddyhttp/errors/errors_test.go b/caddyhttp/errors/errors_test.go
index 2b1603926..4833ecb9a 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/errors/errors_test.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/errors/errors_test.go
@@ -4,14 +4,12 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
@@ -33,8 +31,7 @@ func TestErrors(t *testing.T) {
 			http.StatusNotFound:  path,
 			http.StatusForbidden: "not_exist_file",
 		},
-		Log:    log.New(&buf, "", 0),
-		fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+		Log: httpserver.NewTestLogger(&buf),
 	}
 	_, notExistErr := os.Open("not_exist_file")
 
@@ -123,7 +120,6 @@ func TestVisibleErrorWithPanic(t *testing.T) {
 		Next: httpserver.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (int, error) {
 			panic(panicMsg)
 		}),
-		fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
 	}
 
 	req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "/", nil)
@@ -179,8 +175,7 @@ func TestGenericErrorPage(t *testing.T) {
 		ErrorPages: map[int]string{
 			http.StatusNotFound: notFoundErrorPagePath,
 		},
-		Log:    log.New(&buf, "", 0),
-		fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+		Log: httpserver.NewTestLogger(&buf),
 	}
 
 	tests := []struct {
diff --git a/caddyhttp/errors/setup.go b/caddyhttp/errors/setup.go
index db4177c22..113a7e02c 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/errors/setup.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/errors/setup.go
@@ -1,14 +1,11 @@
 package errors
 
 import (
-	"io"
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
-	"sync"
 
-	"github.com/hashicorp/go-syslog"
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy"
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
 )
@@ -16,61 +13,12 @@ import (
 // setup configures a new errors middleware instance.
 func setup(c *caddy.Controller) error {
 	handler, err := errorsParse(c)
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Open the log file for writing when the server starts
-	c.OnStartup(func() error {
-		var err error
-		var writer io.Writer
-
-		switch handler.LogFile {
-		case "visible":
-			handler.Debug = true
-		case "stdout":
-			writer = os.Stdout
-		case "stderr":
-			writer = os.Stderr
-		case "syslog":
-			writer, err = gsyslog.NewLogger(gsyslog.LOG_ERR, "LOCAL0", "caddy")
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-		default:
-			if handler.LogFile == "" {
-				writer = os.Stderr // default
-				break
-			}
-
-			var file *os.File
-			file, err = os.OpenFile(handler.LogFile, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND, 0644)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			if handler.LogRoller != nil {
-				file.Close()
-				handler.LogRoller.Filename = handler.LogFile
-				writer = handler.LogRoller.GetLogWriter()
-			} else {
-				handler.file = file
-				writer = file
-			}
-		}
-
-		handler.Log = log.New(writer, "", 0)
-		return nil
-	})
-
-	// When server stops, close any open log file
-	c.OnShutdown(func() error {
-		if handler.file != nil {
-			handler.fileMu.Lock()
-			handler.file.Close()
-			handler.fileMu.Unlock()
-		}
-		return nil
-	})
+	handler.Log.Attach(c)
 
 	httpserver.GetConfig(c).AddMiddleware(func(next httpserver.Handler) httpserver.Handler {
 		handler.Next = next
@@ -81,10 +29,14 @@ func setup(c *caddy.Controller) error {
 }
 
 func errorsParse(c *caddy.Controller) (*ErrorHandler, error) {
+
 	// Very important that we make a pointer because the startup
 	// function that opens the log file must have access to the
 	// same instance of the handler, not a copy.
-	handler := &ErrorHandler{ErrorPages: make(map[int]string), fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex)}
+	handler := &ErrorHandler{
+		ErrorPages: make(map[int]string),
+		Log:        &httpserver.Logger{},
+	}
 
 	cfg := httpserver.GetConfig(c)
 
@@ -104,7 +56,7 @@ func errorsParse(c *caddy.Controller) (*ErrorHandler, error) {
 				if where == "visible" {
 					handler.Debug = true
 				} else {
-					handler.LogFile = where
+					handler.Log.Output = where
 					if c.NextArg() {
 						if c.Val() == "{" {
 							c.IncrNest()
@@ -112,7 +64,7 @@ func errorsParse(c *caddy.Controller) (*ErrorHandler, error) {
 							if err != nil {
 								return hadBlock, err
 							}
-							handler.LogRoller = logRoller
+							handler.Log.Roller = logRoller
 						}
 					}
 				}
@@ -121,6 +73,7 @@ func errorsParse(c *caddy.Controller) (*ErrorHandler, error) {
 				if !filepath.IsAbs(where) {
 					where = filepath.Join(cfg.Root, where)
 				}
+
 				f, err := os.Open(where)
 				if err != nil {
 					log.Printf("[WARNING] Unable to open error page '%s': %v", where, err)
@@ -166,7 +119,7 @@ func errorsParse(c *caddy.Controller) (*ErrorHandler, error) {
 				if c.Val() == "visible" {
 					handler.Debug = true
 				} else {
-					handler.LogFile = c.Val()
+					handler.Log.Output = c.Val()
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/caddyhttp/errors/setup_test.go b/caddyhttp/errors/setup_test.go
index f9e539c22..dd0896b8f 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/errors/setup_test.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/errors/setup_test.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package errors
 import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
-	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy"
@@ -27,12 +26,12 @@ func TestSetup(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected handler to be type ErrorHandler, got: %#v", handler)
 	}
 
-	if myHandler.LogFile != "" {
-		t.Errorf("Expected '%s' as the default LogFile", "")
-	}
-	if myHandler.LogRoller != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Expected LogRoller to be nil, got: %v", *myHandler.LogRoller)
+	expectedLogger := &httpserver.Logger{}
+
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(expectedLogger, myHandler.Log) {
+		t.Errorf("Expected '%v' as the default Log, got: '%v'", expectedLogger, myHandler.Log)
 	}
+
 	if !httpserver.SameNext(myHandler.Next, httpserver.EmptyNext) {
 		t.Error("'Next' field of handler was not set properly")
 	}
@@ -59,78 +58,71 @@ func TestErrorsParse(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{`errors`, false, ErrorHandler{
 			ErrorPages: map[int]string{},
-			fileMu:     new(sync.RWMutex),
+			Log:        &httpserver.Logger{},
 		}},
 		{`errors errors.txt`, false, ErrorHandler{
 			ErrorPages: map[int]string{},
-			LogFile:    "errors.txt",
-			fileMu:     new(sync.RWMutex),
+			Log:        &httpserver.Logger{Output: "errors.txt"},
 		}},
 		{`errors visible`, false, ErrorHandler{
 			ErrorPages: map[int]string{},
 			Debug:      true,
-			fileMu:     new(sync.RWMutex),
+			Log:        &httpserver.Logger{},
 		}},
 		{`errors { log visible }`, false, ErrorHandler{
 			ErrorPages: map[int]string{},
 			Debug:      true,
-			fileMu:     new(sync.RWMutex),
+			Log:        &httpserver.Logger{},
 		}},
 		{`errors { log errors.txt
-        404 404.html
-        500 500.html
-}`, false, ErrorHandler{
-			LogFile: "errors.txt",
+			404 404.html
+			500 500.html
+		}`, false, ErrorHandler{
 			ErrorPages: map[int]string{
 				404: "404.html",
 				500: "500.html",
 			},
-			fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+			Log: &httpserver.Logger{Output: "errors.txt"},
 		}},
 		{`errors { log errors.txt { size 2 age 10 keep 3 } }`, false, ErrorHandler{
-			LogFile: "errors.txt",
-			LogRoller: &httpserver.LogRoller{
+			ErrorPages: map[int]string{},
+			Log: &httpserver.Logger{Output: "errors.txt", Roller: &httpserver.LogRoller{
 				MaxSize:    2,
 				MaxAge:     10,
 				MaxBackups: 3,
 				LocalTime:  true,
-			},
-			ErrorPages: map[int]string{},
-			fileMu:     new(sync.RWMutex),
-		}},
+			}}},
+		},
 		{`errors { log errors.txt {
-            size 3
-            age 11
-            keep 5
-        }
-        404 404.html
-        503 503.html
-}`, false, ErrorHandler{
-			LogFile: "errors.txt",
+		    size 3
+		    age 11
+		    keep 5
+		}
+		404 404.html
+		503 503.html
+		}`, false, ErrorHandler{
 			ErrorPages: map[int]string{
 				404: "404.html",
 				503: "503.html",
 			},
-			LogRoller: &httpserver.LogRoller{
+			Log: &httpserver.Logger{Output: "errors.txt", Roller: &httpserver.LogRoller{
 				MaxSize:    3,
 				MaxAge:     11,
 				MaxBackups: 5,
 				LocalTime:  true,
 			},
-			fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
-		}},
+			}}},
 		{`errors { log errors.txt
-        * generic_error.html
-        404 404.html
-        503 503.html
-}`, false, ErrorHandler{
-			LogFile:          "errors.txt",
+			* generic_error.html
+			404 404.html
+			503 503.html
+		}`, false, ErrorHandler{
+			Log:              &httpserver.Logger{Output: "errors.txt"},
 			GenericErrorPage: "generic_error.html",
 			ErrorPages: map[int]string{
 				404: "404.html",
 				503: "503.html",
 			},
-			fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
 		}},
 		// test absolute file path
 		{`errors {
@@ -140,18 +132,20 @@ func TestErrorsParse(t *testing.T) {
 				ErrorPages: map[int]string{
 					404: testAbs,
 				},
-				fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+				Log: &httpserver.Logger{},
 			}},
 		// Next two test cases is the detection of duplicate status codes
 		{`errors {
-        503 503.html
-        503 503.html
-}`, true, ErrorHandler{ErrorPages: map[int]string{}, fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex)}},
+			503 503.html
+			503 503.html
+		}`, true, ErrorHandler{ErrorPages: map[int]string{}, Log: &httpserver.Logger{}}},
+
 		{`errors {
-        * generic_error.html
-        * generic_error.html
-}`, true, ErrorHandler{ErrorPages: map[int]string{}, fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex)}},
+			* generic_error.html
+			* generic_error.html
+		}`, true, ErrorHandler{ErrorPages: map[int]string{}, Log: &httpserver.Logger{}}},
 	}
+
 	for i, test := range tests {
 		actualErrorsRule, err := errorsParse(caddy.NewTestController("http", test.inputErrorsRules))
 
diff --git a/caddyhttp/httpserver/logger.go b/caddyhttp/httpserver/logger.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f16042c03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/caddyhttp/httpserver/logger.go
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+package httpserver
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-syslog"
+	"github.com/mholt/caddy"
+)
+
+var remoteSyslogPrefixes = map[string]string{
+	"syslog+tcp://": "tcp",
+	"syslog+udp://": "udp",
+	"syslog://":     "udp",
+}
+
+// Logger is shared between errors and log plugins and supports both logging to
+// a file (with an optional file roller), local and remote syslog servers.
+type Logger struct {
+	Output string
+	*log.Logger
+	Roller *LogRoller
+	writer io.Writer
+	fileMu *sync.RWMutex
+}
+
+// NewTestLogger creates logger suitable for testing purposes
+func NewTestLogger(buffer *bytes.Buffer) *Logger {
+	return &Logger{
+		Logger: log.New(buffer, "", 0),
+		fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+	}
+}
+
+// Println wraps underlying logger with mutex
+func (l Logger) Println(args ...interface{}) {
+	l.fileMu.RLock()
+	l.Logger.Println(args...)
+	l.fileMu.RUnlock()
+}
+
+// Printf wraps underlying logger with mutex
+func (l Logger) Printf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+	l.fileMu.RLock()
+	l.Logger.Printf(format, args...)
+	l.fileMu.RUnlock()
+}
+
+// Attach binds logger Start and Close functions to
+// controller's OnStartup and OnShutdown hooks.
+func (l *Logger) Attach(controller *caddy.Controller) {
+	if controller != nil {
+		// Opens file or connect to local/remote syslog
+		controller.OnStartup(l.Start)
+
+		// Closes file or disconnects from local/remote syslog
+		controller.OnShutdown(l.Close)
+	}
+}
+
+type syslogAddress struct {
+	network string
+	address string
+}
+
+func parseSyslogAddress(location string) *syslogAddress {
+	for prefix, network := range remoteSyslogPrefixes {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(location, prefix) {
+			return &syslogAddress{
+				network: network,
+				address: strings.TrimPrefix(location, prefix),
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Start initializes logger opening files or local/remote syslog connections
+func (l *Logger) Start() error {
+	// initialize mutex on start
+	l.fileMu = new(sync.RWMutex)
+
+	var err error
+
+selectwriter:
+	switch l.Output {
+	case "", "stderr":
+		l.writer = os.Stderr
+
+	case "stdout":
+		l.writer = os.Stdout
+
+	case "syslog":
+		l.writer, err = gsyslog.NewLogger(gsyslog.LOG_ERR, "LOCAL0", "caddy")
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	default:
+
+		if address := parseSyslogAddress(l.Output); address != nil {
+			l.writer, err = gsyslog.DialLogger(address.network, address.address, gsyslog.LOG_ERR, "LOCAL0", "caddy")
+
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			break selectwriter
+		}
+
+		var file *os.File
+
+		file, err = os.OpenFile(l.Output, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND, 0644)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if l.Roller != nil {
+			file.Close()
+			l.Roller.Filename = l.Output
+			l.writer = l.Roller.GetLogWriter()
+		} else {
+			l.writer = file
+		}
+	}
+
+	l.Logger = log.New(l.writer, "", 0)
+
+	return nil
+
+}
+
+// Close closes open log files or connections to syslog.
+func (l *Logger) Close() error {
+	// Will close local/remote syslog connections too :)
+	if closer, ok := l.writer.(io.WriteCloser); ok {
+		l.fileMu.Lock()
+		err := closer.Close()
+		l.fileMu.Unlock()
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/caddyhttp/httpserver/logger_test.go b/caddyhttp/httpserver/logger_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b444c3a7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/caddyhttp/httpserver/logger_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+//+build linux darwin
+
+package httpserver
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gopkg.in/mcuadros/go-syslog.v2"
+	"gopkg.in/mcuadros/go-syslog.v2/format"
+)
+
+func TestLoggingToStdout(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := []struct {
+		Output         string
+		ExpectedOutput string
+	}{
+		{
+			Output:         "stdout",
+			ExpectedOutput: "Hello world logged to stdout",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for i, testCase := range testCases {
+		output := captureStdout(func() {
+			logger := Logger{Output: testCase.Output, fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex)}
+
+			if err := logger.Start(); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Got unexpected error: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			logger.Println(testCase.ExpectedOutput)
+		})
+
+		if !strings.Contains(output, testCase.ExpectedOutput) {
+			t.Fatalf("Test #%d: Expected output to contain: %s, got: %s", i, testCase.ExpectedOutput, output)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoggingToStderr(t *testing.T) {
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		Output         string
+		ExpectedOutput string
+	}{
+		{
+			Output:         "stderr",
+			ExpectedOutput: "Hello world logged to stderr",
+		},
+		{
+			Output:         "",
+			ExpectedOutput: "Hello world logged to stderr #2",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for i, testCase := range testCases {
+		output := captureStderr(func() {
+			logger := Logger{Output: testCase.Output, fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex)}
+
+			if err := logger.Start(); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Got unexpected error: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			logger.Println(testCase.ExpectedOutput)
+		})
+
+		if !strings.Contains(output, testCase.ExpectedOutput) {
+			t.Fatalf("Test #%d: Expected output to contain: %s, got: %s", i, testCase.ExpectedOutput, output)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoggingToFile(t *testing.T) {
+	file := filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "access.log")
+	expectedOutput := "Hello world written to file"
+
+	logger := Logger{Output: file}
+
+	if err := logger.Start(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Got unexpected error during logger start: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	logger.Print(expectedOutput)
+
+	content, err := ioutil.ReadFile(file)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Could not read log file content: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if !bytes.Contains(content, []byte(expectedOutput)) {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected log file to contain: %s, got: %s", expectedOutput, string(content))
+	}
+
+	os.Remove(file)
+}
+
+func TestLoggingToSyslog(t *testing.T) {
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		Output         string
+		ExpectedOutput string
+	}{
+		{
+			Output:         "syslog://127.0.0.1:5660",
+			ExpectedOutput: "Hello world! Test #1 over tcp",
+		},
+		{
+			Output:         "syslog+tcp://127.0.0.1:5661",
+			ExpectedOutput: "Hello world! Test #2 over tcp",
+		},
+		{
+			Output:         "syslog+udp://127.0.0.1:5662",
+			ExpectedOutput: "Hello world! Test #3 over udp",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for i, testCase := range testCases {
+
+		ch := make(chan format.LogParts, 256)
+		server, err := bootServer(testCase.Output, ch)
+		defer server.Kill()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Test #%d: expected no error during syslog server boot, got: %v", i, err)
+		}
+
+		logger := Logger{Output: testCase.Output, fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex)}
+
+		if err := logger.Start(); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Test #%d: expected no error during logger start, got: %v", i, err)
+		}
+
+		defer logger.Close()
+
+		logger.Print(testCase.ExpectedOutput)
+
+		actual := <-ch
+
+		if content, ok := actual["content"].(string); ok {
+			if !strings.Contains(content, testCase.ExpectedOutput) {
+				t.Errorf("Test #%d: expected server to capture content: %s, but got: %s", i, testCase.ExpectedOutput, content)
+			}
+		} else {
+			t.Errorf("Test #%d: expected server to capture content but got: %v", i, actual)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func bootServer(location string, ch chan format.LogParts) (*syslog.Server, error) {
+	address := parseSyslogAddress(location)
+
+	if address == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not parse syslog address: %s", location)
+	}
+
+	server := syslog.NewServer()
+	server.SetFormat(syslog.Automatic)
+
+	switch address.network {
+	case "tcp":
+		server.ListenTCP(address.address)
+	case "udp":
+		server.ListenUDP(address.address)
+	}
+
+	server.SetHandler(syslog.NewChannelHandler(ch))
+
+	if err := server.Boot(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return server, nil
+}
+
+func captureStdout(f func()) string {
+	original := os.Stdout
+	r, w, _ := os.Pipe()
+
+	os.Stdout = w
+
+	f()
+
+	w.Close()
+
+	written, _ := ioutil.ReadAll(r)
+	os.Stdout = original
+
+	return string(written)
+}
+
+func captureStderr(f func()) string {
+	original := os.Stderr
+	r, w, _ := os.Pipe()
+
+	os.Stderr = w
+
+	f()
+
+	w.Close()
+
+	written, _ := ioutil.ReadAll(r)
+	os.Stderr = original
+
+	return string(written)
+}
diff --git a/caddyhttp/internalsrv/internal_test.go b/caddyhttp/internalsrv/internal_test.go
index b519460aa..ea0710448 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/internalsrv/internal_test.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/internalsrv/internal_test.go
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
 	"strconv"
+
+	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/caddyhttp/log/log.go b/caddyhttp/log/log.go
index 4470bccfe..d0a0fd695 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/log/log.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/log/log.go
@@ -3,10 +3,7 @@ package log
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
 	"net/http"
-	"os"
-	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy"
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
@@ -55,9 +52,7 @@ func (l Logger) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (int, error) {
 
 			// Write log entries
 			for _, e := range rule.Entries {
-				e.fileMu.RLock()
 				e.Log.Println(rep.Replace(e.Format))
-				e.fileMu.RUnlock()
 			}
 
 			return status, err
@@ -68,12 +63,8 @@ func (l Logger) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (int, error) {
 
 // Entry represents a log entry under a path scope
 type Entry struct {
-	OutputFile string
-	Format     string
-	Log        *log.Logger
-	Roller     *httpserver.LogRoller
-	file       *os.File      // if logging to a file that needs to be closed
-	fileMu     *sync.RWMutex // files can't be safely read/written in one goroutine and closed in another (issue #1371)
+	Format string
+	Log    *httpserver.Logger
 }
 
 // Rule configures the logging middleware.
diff --git a/caddyhttp/log/log_test.go b/caddyhttp/log/log_test.go
index 8dcf928b3..2cf46afd9 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/log/log_test.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/log/log_test.go
@@ -3,11 +3,9 @@ package log
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"io/ioutil"
-	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"strings"
-	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
@@ -29,8 +27,7 @@ func TestLoggedStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		PathScope: "/",
 		Entries: []*Entry{{
 			Format: DefaultLogFormat + " {testval}",
-			Log:    log.New(&f, "", 0),
-			fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+			Log:    httpserver.NewTestLogger(&f),
 		}},
 	}
 
@@ -73,8 +70,7 @@ func TestLogRequestBody(t *testing.T) {
 			PathScope: "/",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
 				Format: "{request_body}",
-				Log:    log.New(&got, "", 0),
-				fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+				Log:    httpserver.NewTestLogger(&got),
 			}},
 		}},
 		Next: httpserver.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (int, error) {
@@ -133,13 +129,11 @@ func TestMultiEntries(t *testing.T) {
 			Entries: []*Entry{
 				{
 					Format: "foo {request_body}",
-					Log:    log.New(&got1, "", 0),
-					fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+					Log:    httpserver.NewTestLogger(&got1),
 				},
 				{
 					Format: "{method} {request_body}",
-					Log:    log.New(&got2, "", 0),
-					fileMu: new(sync.RWMutex),
+					Log:    httpserver.NewTestLogger(&got2),
 				},
 			},
 		}},
diff --git a/caddyhttp/log/setup.go b/caddyhttp/log/setup.go
index 8dd586b69..3b909d1a2 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/log/setup.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/log/setup.go
@@ -1,13 +1,6 @@
 package log
 
 import (
-	"io"
-	"log"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"sync"
-
-	"github.com/hashicorp/go-syslog"
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy"
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
 )
@@ -19,61 +12,11 @@ func setup(c *caddy.Controller) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Open the log files for writing when the server starts
-	c.OnStartup(func() error {
-		for _, rule := range rules {
-			for _, entry := range rule.Entries {
-				var err error
-				var writer io.Writer
-
-				if entry.OutputFile == "stdout" {
-					writer = os.Stdout
-				} else if entry.OutputFile == "stderr" {
-					writer = os.Stderr
-				} else if entry.OutputFile == "syslog" {
-					writer, err = gsyslog.NewLogger(gsyslog.LOG_INFO, "LOCAL0", "caddy")
-					if err != nil {
-						return err
-					}
-				} else {
-					err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(entry.OutputFile), 0744)
-					if err != nil {
-						return err
-					}
-					file, err := os.OpenFile(entry.OutputFile, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND, 0644)
-					if err != nil {
-						return err
-					}
-					if entry.Roller != nil {
-						file.Close()
-						entry.Roller.Filename = entry.OutputFile
-						writer = entry.Roller.GetLogWriter()
-					} else {
-						entry.file = file
-						writer = file
-					}
-				}
-
-				entry.Log = log.New(writer, "", 0)
-			}
+	for _, rule := range rules {
+		for _, entry := range rule.Entries {
+			entry.Log.Attach(c)
 		}
-
-		return nil
-	})
-
-	// When server stops, close any open log files
-	c.OnShutdown(func() error {
-		for _, rule := range rules {
-			for _, entry := range rule.Entries {
-				if entry.file != nil {
-					entry.fileMu.Lock()
-					entry.file.Close()
-					entry.fileMu.Unlock()
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		return nil
-	})
+	}
 
 	httpserver.GetConfig(c).AddMiddleware(func(next httpserver.Handler) httpserver.Handler {
 		return Logger{Next: next, Rules: rules, ErrorFunc: httpserver.DefaultErrorFunc}
@@ -111,18 +54,20 @@ func logParse(c *caddy.Controller) ([]*Rule, error) {
 		if len(args) == 0 {
 			// Nothing specified; use defaults
 			rules = appendEntry(rules, "/", &Entry{
-				OutputFile: DefaultLogFilename,
-				Format:     DefaultLogFormat,
-				Roller:     logRoller,
-				fileMu:     new(sync.RWMutex),
+				Log: &httpserver.Logger{
+					Output: DefaultLogFilename,
+					Roller: logRoller,
+				},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
 			})
 		} else if len(args) == 1 {
 			// Only an output file specified
 			rules = appendEntry(rules, "/", &Entry{
-				OutputFile: args[0],
-				Format:     DefaultLogFormat,
-				Roller:     logRoller,
-				fileMu:     new(sync.RWMutex),
+				Log: &httpserver.Logger{
+					Output: args[0],
+					Roller: logRoller,
+				},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
 			})
 		} else {
 			// Path scope, output file, and maybe a format specified
@@ -141,10 +86,11 @@ func logParse(c *caddy.Controller) ([]*Rule, error) {
 			}
 
 			rules = appendEntry(rules, args[0], &Entry{
-				OutputFile: args[1],
-				Format:     format,
-				Roller:     logRoller,
-				fileMu:     new(sync.RWMutex),
+				Log: &httpserver.Logger{
+					Output: args[1],
+					Roller: logRoller,
+				},
+				Format: format,
 			})
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/caddyhttp/log/setup_test.go b/caddyhttp/log/setup_test.go
index 8d6139070..fa82e69ce 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/log/setup_test.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/log/setup_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package log
 import (
 	"testing"
 
+	"reflect"
+
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy"
 	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
 )
@@ -29,20 +31,19 @@ func TestSetup(t *testing.T) {
 	if myHandler.Rules[0].PathScope != "/" {
 		t.Errorf("Expected / as the default PathScope")
 	}
-	if myHandler.Rules[0].Entries[0].OutputFile != DefaultLogFilename {
-		t.Errorf("Expected %s as the default OutputFile", DefaultLogFilename)
+
+	expectedLogger := &httpserver.Logger{Output: DefaultLogFilename}
+
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(myHandler.Rules[0].Entries[0].Log, expectedLogger) {
+		t.Errorf("Expected %v as the default Log, got: %v", expectedLogger, myHandler.Rules[0].Entries[0].Log)
 	}
 	if myHandler.Rules[0].Entries[0].Format != DefaultLogFormat {
 		t.Errorf("Expected %s as the default Log Format", DefaultLogFormat)
 	}
-	if myHandler.Rules[0].Entries[0].Roller != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Expected Roller to be nil, got: %v",
-			*myHandler.Rules[0].Entries[0].Roller)
-	}
+
 	if !httpserver.SameNext(myHandler.Next, httpserver.EmptyNext) {
 		t.Error("'Next' field of handler was not set properly")
 	}
-
 }
 
 func TestLogParse(t *testing.T) {
@@ -54,95 +55,108 @@ func TestLogParse(t *testing.T) {
 		{`log`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: DefaultLogFilename,
-				Format:     DefaultLogFormat,
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: DefaultLogFilename},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log log.txt`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "log.txt",
-				Format:     DefaultLogFormat,
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "log.txt"},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
+			}},
+		}}},
+		{`log syslog://127.0.0.1:5000`, false, []Rule{{
+			PathScope: "/",
+			Entries: []*Entry{{
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "syslog://127.0.0.1:5000"},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
+			}},
+		}}},
+		{`log syslog+tcp://127.0.0.1:5000`, false, []Rule{{
+			PathScope: "/",
+			Entries: []*Entry{{
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "syslog+tcp://127.0.0.1:5000"},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log /api log.txt`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/api",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "log.txt",
-				Format:     DefaultLogFormat,
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "log.txt"},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log /serve stdout`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/serve",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "stdout",
-				Format:     DefaultLogFormat,
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "stdout"},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log /myapi log.txt {common}`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/myapi",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "log.txt",
-				Format:     CommonLogFormat,
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "log.txt"},
+				Format: CommonLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log /test accesslog.txt {combined}`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/test",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "accesslog.txt",
-				Format:     CombinedLogFormat,
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "accesslog.txt"},
+				Format: CombinedLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log /api1 log.txt
 		  log /api2 accesslog.txt {combined}`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/api1",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "log.txt",
-				Format:     DefaultLogFormat,
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "log.txt"},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}, {
 			PathScope: "/api2",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "accesslog.txt",
-				Format:     CombinedLogFormat,
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "accesslog.txt"},
+				Format: CombinedLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log /api3 stdout {host}
 		  log /api4 log.txt {when}`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/api3",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "stdout",
-				Format:     "{host}",
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "stdout"},
+				Format: "{host}",
 			}},
 		}, {
 			PathScope: "/api4",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "log.txt",
-				Format:     "{when}",
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "log.txt"},
+				Format: "{when}",
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log access.log { rotate { size 2 age 10 keep 3 } }`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "access.log",
-				Format:     DefaultLogFormat,
-				Roller: &httpserver.LogRoller{
+				Log: &httpserver.Logger{Output: "access.log", Roller: &httpserver.LogRoller{
 					MaxSize:    2,
 					MaxAge:     10,
 					MaxBackups: 3,
 					LocalTime:  true,
-				},
+				}},
+				Format: DefaultLogFormat,
 			}},
 		}}},
 		{`log / stdout {host}
 		  log / log.txt {when}`, false, []Rule{{
 			PathScope: "/",
 			Entries: []*Entry{{
-				OutputFile: "stdout",
-				Format:     "{host}",
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "stdout"},
+				Format: "{host}",
 			}, {
-				OutputFile: "log.txt",
-				Format:     "{when}",
+				Log:    &httpserver.Logger{Output: "log.txt"},
+				Format: "{when}",
 			}},
 		}}},
 	}
@@ -172,43 +186,16 @@ func TestLogParse(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			for k, actualEntry := range actualLogRule.Entries {
-				if actualEntry.OutputFile != test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].OutputFile {
-					t.Errorf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule OutputFile to be  %s  , but got %s",
-						i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].OutputFile, actualEntry.OutputFile)
+				if !reflect.DeepEqual(actualEntry.Log, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Log) {
+					t.Errorf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule Log to be  %v  , but got %v",
+						i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Log, actualEntry.Log)
 				}
 
 				if actualEntry.Format != test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Format {
 					t.Errorf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule Format to be  %s  , but got %s",
 						i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Format, actualEntry.Format)
 				}
-				if actualEntry.Roller != nil && test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller == nil || actualEntry.Roller == nil && test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller != nil {
-					t.Fatalf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule Roller to be %v, but got %v",
-						i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller, actualEntry.Roller)
-				}
-				if actualEntry.Roller != nil && test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller != nil {
-					if actualEntry.Roller.Filename != test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.Filename {
-						t.Fatalf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule Roller Filename to be %s, but got %s",
-							i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.Filename, actualEntry.Roller.Filename)
-					}
-					if actualEntry.Roller.MaxAge != test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.MaxAge {
-						t.Fatalf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule Roller MaxAge to be %d, but got %d",
-							i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.MaxAge, actualEntry.Roller.MaxAge)
-					}
-					if actualEntry.Roller.MaxBackups != test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.MaxBackups {
-						t.Fatalf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule Roller MaxBackups to be %d, but got %d",
-							i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.MaxBackups, actualEntry.Roller.MaxBackups)
-					}
-					if actualEntry.Roller.MaxSize != test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.MaxSize {
-						t.Fatalf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule Roller MaxSize to be %d, but got %d",
-							i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.MaxSize, actualEntry.Roller.MaxSize)
-					}
-					if actualEntry.Roller.LocalTime != test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.LocalTime {
-						t.Fatalf("Test %d expected %dth LogRule Roller LocalTime to be %t, but got %t",
-							i, j, test.expectedLogRules[j].Entries[k].Roller.LocalTime, actualEntry.Roller.LocalTime)
-					}
-				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
 }
diff --git a/caddyhttp/markdown/process_test.go b/caddyhttp/markdown/process_test.go
index bce1613d6..fbafaf989 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/markdown/process_test.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/markdown/process_test.go
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 package markdown
 
 import (
-	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mholt/caddy/caddyhttp/httpserver"
 )
 
 func TestConfig_Markdown(t *testing.T) {