diff --git a/src/config/console.h b/src/config/console.h
index 0692c2f5..e7a190aa 100644
--- a/src/config/console.h
+++ b/src/config/console.h
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
 
 #define	KEYBOARD_MAP	us
 
+#define	LOG_LEVEL	LOG_NONE
+
 #include <config/local/console.h>
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_CONSOLE_H */
diff --git a/src/core/log.c b/src/core/log.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c0c3656c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/log.c
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2012 Michael Brown <mbrown@fensystems.co.uk>.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+ * License, or any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+ */
+
+FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
+
+/** @file
+ *
+ * System logger
+ *
+ */
+
+#include <stdarg.h>
+#include <syslog.h>
+#include <ipxe/console.h>
+
+/**
+ * Write message to system log
+ *
+ * @v fmt		Format string
+ * @v args		Arguments
+ */
+void log_vprintf ( const char *fmt, va_list args ) {
+	int saved_usage;
+
+	/* Mark console as in use for log messages */
+	saved_usage = console_set_usage ( CONSOLE_USAGE_LOG );
+
+	/* Print message */
+	vprintf ( fmt, args );
+
+	/* Restore console usage */
+	console_set_usage ( saved_usage );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Write message to system log
+ *
+ * @v fmt		Format string
+ * @v ...		Arguments
+ */
+void log_printf ( const char *fmt, ... ) {
+	va_list args;
+
+	va_start ( args, fmt );
+	log_vprintf ( fmt, args );
+	va_end ( args );
+}
diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/console.h b/src/include/ipxe/console.h
index 5ff93884..e2bf4be9 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/console.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/console.h
@@ -120,9 +120,12 @@ struct console_driver {
 /** Text-based user interface */
 #define CONSOLE_USAGE_TUI 0x0004
 
+/** Log messages */
+#define CONSOLE_USAGE_LOG 0x0008
+
 /** All console usages */
-#define CONSOLE_USAGE_ALL \
-	( CONSOLE_USAGE_STDOUT | CONSOLE_USAGE_DEBUG | CONSOLE_USAGE_TUI )
+#define CONSOLE_USAGE_ALL ( CONSOLE_USAGE_STDOUT | CONSOLE_USAGE_DEBUG | \
+			    CONSOLE_USAGE_TUI | CONSOLE_USAGE_LOG )
 
 /** @} */
 
diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/syslog.h b/src/include/ipxe/syslog.h
index 25edc6b0..256ac761 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/syslog.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/syslog.h
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 
 FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
 
+#include <syslog.h>
+
 /** Syslog server port */
 #define SYSLOG_PORT 514
 
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
  *
  * This is a policy decision
  */
-#define SYSLOG_SEVERITY 6 /* informational */
+#define SYSLOG_SEVERITY LOG_INFO
 
 /** Syslog priority */
 #define SYSLOG_PRIORITY( facility, severity ) ( 8 * (facility) + (severity) )
diff --git a/src/include/syslog.h b/src/include/syslog.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cc7b19fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/include/syslog.h
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#ifndef _SYSLOG_H
+#define _SYSLOG_H
+
+/** @file
+ *
+ * System logger
+ *
+ */
+
+FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
+
+#include <stdarg.h>
+#include <config/console.h>
+
+/**
+ * @defgroup syslogpri Syslog priorities
+ *
+ * These values are chosen to match those used in the syslog network
+ * protocol (RFC 5424).
+ *
+ * @{
+ */
+
+/** Emergency: system is unusable */
+#define LOG_EMERG 0
+
+/** Alert: action must be taken immediately */
+#define LOG_ALERT 1
+
+/** Critical: critical conditions */
+#define LOG_CRIT 2
+
+/** Error: error conditions */
+#define LOG_ERR 3
+
+/** Warning: warning conditions */
+#define LOG_WARNING 4
+
+/** Notice: normal but significant conditions */
+#define LOG_NOTICE 5
+
+/** Informational: informational messages */
+#define LOG_INFO 6
+
+/** Debug: debug-level messages */
+#define LOG_DEBUG 7
+
+/** @} */
+
+/** Do not log any messages */
+#define LOG_NONE -1
+
+extern void log_vprintf ( const char *fmt, va_list args );
+
+extern void __attribute__ (( format ( printf, 1, 2 ) ))
+log_printf ( const char *fmt, ... );
+
+/**
+ * Write message to system log
+ *
+ * @v priority		Message priority
+ * @v fmt		Format string
+ * @v ...		Arguments
+ */
+#define vsyslog( priority, fmt, args ) do {		\
+	if ( (priority) <= LOG_LEVEL ) {		\
+		log_vprintf ( fmt, (args) );		\
+	}						\
+	} while ( 0 )
+
+/**
+ * Write message to system log
+ *
+ * @v priority		Message priority
+ * @v fmt		Format string
+ * @v ...		Arguments
+ */
+#define syslog( priority, fmt, ... ) do {		\
+	if ( (priority) <= LOG_LEVEL ) {		\
+		log_printf ( fmt, ##__VA_ARGS__ );	\
+	}						\
+	} while ( 0 )
+
+#endif /* _SYSLOG_H */