diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 610fd38..817aa42 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -86,56 +86,57 @@ As far as we know, it is one of the fastest loggers in town:
 `pino.info('hello world')`:
 
 ```
-benchBunyan*10000: 1355.229ms
-benchWinston*10000: 2226.117ms
-benchBole*10000: 291.727ms
-benchDebug*10000: 445.291ms
-benchLogLevel*10000: 322.181ms
-benchPino*10000: 269.109ms
-benchPinoExtreme*10000: 102.239ms
+BASIC benchmark averages
+Bunyan average: 549.042ms
+Winston average: 467.873ms
+Bole average: 201.529ms
+Debug average: 253.724ms
+LogLevel average: 282.653ms
+Pino average: 188.956ms
+PinoExtreme average: 108.809ms
 ```
 
 `pino.info({'hello': 'world'})`:
 
 ```
-benchBunyanObj*10000: 1464.568ms
-benchWinstonObj*10000: 2177.602ms
-benchBoleObj*10000: 322.105ms
-benchLogLevelObject*10000: 1443.148ms
-benchPinoObj*10000: 309.564ms
-benchPinoUnsafeObj*10000: 301.308ms
-benchPinoExtremeObj*10000: 130.343ms
-benchPinoUnsafeExtremeObj*10000: 131.322ms
+OBJECT benchmark averages
+BunyanObj average: 564.363ms
+WinstonObj average: 464.824ms
+BoleObj average: 230.220ms
+LogLevelObject average: 474.857ms
+PinoObj average: 201.442ms
+PinoUnsafeObj average: 202.687ms
+PinoExtremeObj average: 108.689ms
+PinoUnsafeExtremeObj average: 106.718ms
 ```
 
 `pino.info(aBigDeeplyNestedObject)`:
 
 ```
-benchBunyanDeepObj*10000: 8749.174ms
-benchWinstonDeepObj*10000: 17761.409ms
-benchBoleDeepObj*10000: 5252.563ms
-benchLogLevelDeepObj*10000: 43518.525ms
-benchPinoDeepObj*10000: 5124.361ms
-benchPinoUnsafeDeepObj*10000: 3539.253ms
-benchPinoExtremeDeepObj*10000: 5138.457ms
-benchPinoUnsafeExtremeDeepObj*10000: 3480.270ms
+DEEPOBJECT benchmark averages
+BunyanDeepObj average: 5293.279ms
+WinstonDeepObj average: 9020.292ms
+BoleDeepObj average: 9169.043ms
+LogLevelDeepObj average: 15260.917ms
+PinoDeepObj average: 8467.807ms
+PinoUnsafeDeepObj average: 6159.227ms
+PinoExtremeDeepObj average: 8354.557ms
+PinoUnsafeExtremeDeepObj average: 6214.073ms
 ```
 
 `pino.info('hello %s %j %d', 'world', {obj: true}, 4, {another: 'obj'})`:
 
 ```
-benchDebugInterpolateExtra*10000: 640.001ms
-benchBunyanInterpolateExtra*10000: 2888.825ms
-benchWinstonInterpolateExtra*10000: 2616.285ms
-benchBoleInterpolateExtra*10000: 1313.470ms
-benchLogLevelInterpolateExtra*10000: 1487.610ms
-benchPinoInterpolateExtra*10000: 486.367ms
-benchPinoUnsafeInterpolateExtra*10000: 457.778ms
-benchPinoExtremeInterpolateExtra*10000: 314.635ms
-benchPinoUnsafeExtremeInterpolateExtra*10000: 294.915ms
+BunyanInterpolateExtra average: 778.408ms
+WinstonInterpolateExtra average: 627.956ms
+BoleInterpolateExtra average: 429.757ms
+PinoInterpolateExtra average: 316.043ms
+PinoUnsafeInterpolateExtra average: 316.809ms
+PinoExtremeInterpolateExtra average: 218.468ms
+PinoUnsafeExtremeInterpolateExtra average: 215.040ms
 ```
 
-In many cases, pino is over 6x faster than alternatives.
+In many cases, pino is over 5x faster than alternatives.
 
 For a fair comparison, [LogLevel](http://npm.im/loglevel) was extended
 to include a timestamp and [bole](http://npm.im/bole) had
diff --git a/benchmarks/basic.bench.js b/benchmarks/basic.bench.js
index 7972ae7..6678618 100644
--- a/benchmarks/basic.bench.js
+++ b/benchmarks/basic.bench.js
@@ -31,8 +31,13 @@ require('bole').output({
   stream: dest
 }).setFastTime(true)
 
-winston.add(winston.transports.File, { filename: '/dev/null' })
-winston.remove(winston.transports.Console)
+var chill = winston.createLogger({
+  transports: [
+    new winston.transports.Stream({
+      stream: fs.createWriteStream('/dev/null')
+    })
+  ]
+})
 
 var run = bench([
   function benchBunyan (cb) {
@@ -43,7 +48,7 @@ var run = bench([
   },
   function benchWinston (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info('hello world')
+      chill.log('info', 'hello world')
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
diff --git a/benchmarks/deep-object.bench.js b/benchmarks/deep-object.bench.js
index dde6f7f..5a1bef6 100644
--- a/benchmarks/deep-object.bench.js
+++ b/benchmarks/deep-object.bench.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ var plogUnsafeExtreme = require('../')({extreme: true, safe: false}, dest)
 
 var loglevel = require('./loglevelMock')(dest)
 
-var deep = require('../package.json')
+var deep = Object.assign({}, require('../package.json'), { level: 'info' })
 deep.deep = Object.assign({}, JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(deep)))
 deep.deep.deep = Object.assign({}, JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(deep)))
 deep.deep.deep.deep = Object.assign({}, JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(deep)))
@@ -36,8 +36,13 @@ require('bole').output({
   stream: dest
 }).setFastTime(true)
 
-winston.add(winston.transports.File, { filename: '/dev/null' })
-winston.remove(winston.transports.Console)
+var chill = winston.createLogger({
+  transports: [
+    new winston.transports.Stream({
+      stream: fs.createWriteStream('/dev/null')
+    })
+  ]
+})
 
 var run = bench([
   function benchBunyanDeepObj (cb) {
@@ -48,7 +53,7 @@ var run = bench([
   },
   function benchWinstonDeepObj (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info(deep)
+      chill.log(deep)
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
diff --git a/benchmarks/long-string.bench.js b/benchmarks/long-string.bench.js
index feb6007..503353b 100644
--- a/benchmarks/long-string.bench.js
+++ b/benchmarks/long-string.bench.js
@@ -32,8 +32,13 @@ require('bole').output({
   stream: dest
 }).setFastTime(true)
 
-winston.add(winston.transports.File, { filename: '/dev/null' })
-winston.remove(winston.transports.Console)
+var chill = winston.createLogger({
+  transports: [
+    new winston.transports.Stream({
+      stream: fs.createWriteStream('/dev/null')
+    })
+  ]
+})
 
 var run = bench([
   function benchBunyan (cb) {
@@ -44,7 +49,7 @@ var run = bench([
   },
   function benchWinston (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info(longStr)
+      chill.info(longStr)
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
diff --git a/benchmarks/multiArg.bench.js b/benchmarks/multiArg.bench.js
index 0368015..cae6757 100644
--- a/benchmarks/multiArg.bench.js
+++ b/benchmarks/multiArg.bench.js
@@ -40,8 +40,13 @@ require('bole').output({
   stream: dest
 }).setFastTime(true)
 
-winston.add(winston.transports.File, { filename: '/dev/null' })
-winston.remove(winston.transports.Console)
+var chill = winston.createLogger({
+  transports: [
+    new winston.transports.Stream({
+      stream: fs.createWriteStream('/dev/null')
+    })
+  ]
+})
 
 var run = bench([
   function benchBunyanMulti (cb) {
@@ -52,7 +57,7 @@ var run = bench([
   },
   function benchWinstonMulti (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info('hello', 'world')
+      chill.log('info', 'hello', 'world')
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
@@ -94,7 +99,7 @@ var run = bench([
   },
   function benchWinstonInterpolate (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info('hello %s', 'world')
+      chill.log('info', 'hello %s', 'world')
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
@@ -125,7 +130,7 @@ var run = bench([
 
   function benchWinstonInterpolateAll (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info('hello %s %j %d', 'world', {obj: true}, 4)
+      chill.log('info', 'hello %s %j %d', 'world', {obj: true}, 4)
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
@@ -167,7 +172,7 @@ var run = bench([
   },
   function benchWinstonInterpolateExtra (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info('hello %s %j %d', 'world', {obj: true}, 4, {another: 'obj'})
+      chill.log('info', 'hello %s %j %d', 'world', {obj: true}, 4, {another: 'obj'})
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
@@ -209,7 +214,7 @@ var run = bench([
   },
   function benchWinstonInterpolateDeep (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info('hello %j', deep)
+      chill.log('info', 'hello %j', deep)
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
diff --git a/benchmarks/object.bench.js b/benchmarks/object.bench.js
index 27a2e37..9ad4a52 100644
--- a/benchmarks/object.bench.js
+++ b/benchmarks/object.bench.js
@@ -30,8 +30,13 @@ require('bole').output({
   stream: dest
 }).setFastTime(true)
 
-winston.add(winston.transports.File, { filename: '/dev/null' })
-winston.remove(winston.transports.Console)
+var chill = winston.createLogger({
+  transports: [
+    new winston.transports.Stream({
+      stream: fs.createWriteStream('/dev/null')
+    })
+  ]
+})
 
 var run = bench([
   function benchBunyanObj (cb) {
@@ -42,7 +47,7 @@ var run = bench([
   },
   function benchWinstonObj (cb) {
     for (var i = 0; i < max; i++) {
-      winston.info({ hello: 'world' })
+      chill.info({ hello: 'world' })
     }
     setImmediate(cb)
   },
diff --git a/benchmarks/runbench.js b/benchmarks/runbench.js
index fc24a40..b02ea0f 100644
--- a/benchmarks/runbench.js
+++ b/benchmarks/runbench.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use strict'
 
 var fs = require('fs')
+var os = require('os')
 var path = require('path')
 var spawn = require('child_process').spawn
 var pump = require('pump')
@@ -76,16 +77,20 @@ function displayResults (results) {
   console.log('==========')
   var benchNames = Object.keys(results)
   for (var i = 0; i < benchNames.length; i += 1) {
-    console.log(benchNames[i] + ' averages')
+    console.log(benchNames[i].toUpperCase() + ' benchmark averages')
     var benchmark = results[benchNames[i]]
     var loggers = Object.keys(benchmark)
     for (var j = 0; j < loggers.length; j += 1) {
       var logger = benchmark[loggers[j]]
       var average = sum(logger) / logger.length
-      console.log(loggers[j] + ' average: ' + average)
+      console.log(loggers[j] + ' average: ' + average.toFixed(3) + 'ms')
     }
   }
   console.log('==========')
+  console.log('System: %s/%s %s %s ~ %s (cores/threads: %s)',
+    os.type(), os.platform(), os.arch(), os.release(),
+    os.cpus()[0].model, os.cpus().length
+  )
 }
 
 function toBench (done) {
diff --git a/docs/API.md b/docs/API.md
index 17c2700..1b161da 100644
--- a/docs/API.md
+++ b/docs/API.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     of objects. These functions should return an JSONifiable object and they
     should never throw. When logging an object, each top-level property matching the exact key of a serializer
     will be serialized using the defined serializer.
-        
+
     Alternatively, it is possible to register a serializer under the key `Symbol.for('pino.*')` which will act upon the complete log object, i.e. every property.
   * `timestamp` (boolean|function): Enables or disables the inclusion of a timestamp in the
     log message. If a function is supplied, it must synchronously return a JSON string
@@ -297,12 +297,18 @@ You can pass `'silent'` to disable logging.
 + `...` (*): format string values when `msg` is a format string
 
 ### Discussion:
-Log at `'fatal'` level the given `msg`. If the first argument is an
-object, all its properties will be included in the JSON line.
-If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
-[`util.format`][util-format].
+Log at `'fatal'` level the given `msg`. The `msg` may contain up to 10
+[format string tokens][formatstrs] (given that the method accetps up to 11
+arguments total). The subsequent parameters passed will be used to fill in these
+placeholder tokens with the associated value. Any extra parameters will be
+silently ignored. For example, `log.fatal('%s', 'a', 'b')` will only log the
+string `a` and ignore the `'b'` parameter.
 
-[util-format]: https://nodejs.org/api/util.html#util_util_format_format
+If the first argument is an object, all its properties will be included in the
+JSON line. The number of available format string tokens and associated
+parameters will be reduced accodringly.
+
+[formatstrs]: https://nodejs.org/dist/latest-v8.x/docs/api/util.html#util_util_format_format_args
 
 <a id="error"></a>
 ## .error([obj], msg, [...])
@@ -313,10 +319,16 @@ If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
 + `...` (*): format string values when `msg` is a format string
 
 ### Discussion:
-Log at `'error'` level the given `msg`. If the first argument is an
-object, all its properties will be included in the JSON line.
-If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
-[`util.format`][util-format].
+Log at `'error'` level the given `msg`. The `msg` may contain up to 10
+[format string tokens][formatstrs] (given that the method accetps up to 11
+arguments total). The subsequent parameters passed will be used to fill in these
+placeholder tokens with the associated value. Any extra parameters will be
+silently ignored. For example, `log.error('%s', 'a', 'b')` will only log the
+string `a` and ignore the `'b'` parameter.
+
+If the first argument is an object, all its properties will be included in the
+JSON line. The number of available format string tokens and associated
+parameters will be reduced accodringly.
 
 <a id="warn"></a>
 ## .warn([obj], msg, [...])
@@ -327,10 +339,16 @@ If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
 + `...` (*): format string values when `msg` is a format string
 
 ### Discussion:
-Log at `'warn'` level the given `msg`. If the first argument is an
-object, all its properties will be included in the JSON line.
-If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
-[`util.format`][util-format].
+Log at `'warn'` level the given `msg`. The `msg` may contain up to 10
+[format string tokens][formatstrs] (given that the method accetps up to 11
+arguments total). The subsequent parameters passed will be used to fill in these
+placeholder tokens with the associated value. Any extra parameters will be
+silently ignored. For example, `log.warn('%s', 'a', 'b')` will only log the
+string `a` and ignore the `'b'` parameter.
+
+If the first argument is an object, all its properties will be included in the
+JSON line. The number of available format string tokens and associated
+parameters will be reduced accodringly.
 
 <a id="info"></a>
 ## .info([obj], msg, [...])
@@ -341,10 +359,16 @@ If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
 + `...` (*): format string values when `msg` is a format string
 
 ### Discussion:
-Log at `'info'` level the given `msg`. If the first argument is an
-object, all its properties will be included in the JSON line.
-If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
-[`util.format`][util-format].
+Log at `'info'` level the given `msg`. The `msg` may contain up to 10
+[format string tokens][formatstrs] (given that the method accetps up to 11
+arguments total). The subsequent parameters passed will be used to fill in these
+placeholder tokens with the associated value. Any extra parameters will be
+silently ignored. For example, `log.info('%s', 'a', 'b')` will only log the
+string `a` and ignore the `'b'` parameter.
+
+If the first argument is an object, all its properties will be included in the
+JSON line. The number of available format string tokens and associated
+parameters will be reduced accodringly.
 
 <a id="debug"></a>
 ## .debug([obj], msg, [...])
@@ -355,10 +379,16 @@ If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
 + `...` (*): format string values when `msg` is a format string
 
 ### Discussion:
-Log at `'debug'` level the given `msg`. If the first argument is an
-object, all its properties will be included in the JSON line.
-If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
-[`util.format`][util-format].
+Log at `'debug'` level the given `msg`. The `msg` may contain up to 10
+[format string tokens][formatstrs] (given that the method accetps up to 11
+arguments total). The subsequent parameters passed will be used to fill in these
+placeholder tokens with the associated value. Any extra parameters will be
+silently ignored. For example, `log.debug('%s', 'a', 'b')` will only log the
+string `a` and ignore the `'b'` parameter.
+
+If the first argument is an object, all its properties will be included in the
+JSON line. The number of available format string tokens and associated
+parameters will be reduced accodringly.
 
 <a id="trace"></a>
 ## .trace([obj], msg, [...])
@@ -369,10 +399,16 @@ If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
 + `...` (*): format string values when `msg` is a format string
 
 ### Discussion:
-Log at `'trace'` level the given `msg`. If the first argument is an
-object, all its properties will be included in the JSON line.
-If more args follows `msg`, these will be used to format `msg` using
-[`util.format`][util-format].
+Log at `'trace'` level the given `msg`. The `msg` may contain up to 10
+[format string tokens][formatstrs] (given that the method accetps up to 11
+arguments total). The subsequent parameters passed will be used to fill in these
+placeholder tokens with the associated value. Any extra parameters will be
+silently ignored. For example, `log.trace('%s', 'a', 'b')` will only log the
+string `a` and ignore the `'b'` parameter.
+
+If the first argument is an object, all its properties will be included in the
+JSON line. The number of available format string tokens and associated
+parameters will be reduced accodringly.
 
 <a id="flush"></a>
 ## .flush()
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f211192..420b5c6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pino",
-  "version": "4.16.0",
+  "version": "4.16.1",
   "description": "super fast, all natural json logger",
   "main": "pino.js",
   "browser": "./browser.js",
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
     "tap": "^11.1.3",
     "tape": "^4.9.0",
     "through2": "^2.0.3",
-    "winston": "^2.4.1",
+    "winston": "^3.0.0-rc3",
     "zuul": "^3.11.1"
   },
   "dependencies": {