diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index ab5930cb..2cdfb374 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 - gifload supports n/page-height
 - added #defines for VIPS_SONAME, VIPS_LIBRARY_CURRENT, VIPS_LIBRARY_REVISION,
   VIPS_LIBRARY_AGE
+- deprecate vips_warn(), use g_warning() instead
+- deprecate vips_info(), use g_info() instead
 
 8/12/16 started 8.4.5
 - allow libgsf-1.14.26 to help centos, thanks tdiprima
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 715f4c8f..285d5ee1 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,3 +1,23 @@
+- need some simple way to turn on info output from CLI or env var
+
+- switch to glib logging
+
+	vips_error() stuff must stay
+
+	vips_info() and vips_warn() can change 
+
+	- switch to g_warning() and g_info(), have some compat stuff 
+
+	just calls 
+	
+		g_logv (G_LOG_DOMAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_INFO, format, args);
+
+	also see
+
+	vips_info_set(), --vips-info, VIPS_INFO
+
+
+
 - not sure about utf8 error messages on win
 
 - strange: 
diff --git a/cplusplus/VImage.cpp b/cplusplus/VImage.cpp
index d9b55133..a1905441 100644
--- a/cplusplus/VImage.cpp
+++ b/cplusplus/VImage.cpp
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ set_property( VipsObject *object, const char *name, const GValue *value )
 
 	if( vips_object_get_argument( object, name, 
 		&pspec, &argument_class, &argument_instance ) ) {
-		vips_warn( NULL, "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
+		g_warning( "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
 		vips_error_clear();
 		return;
 	}
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ set_property( VipsObject *object, const char *name, const GValue *value )
 
 		if( (enum_value = vips_enum_from_nick( object_class->nickname, 
 			pspec_type, g_value_get_string( value ) )) < 0 ) {
-			vips_warn( NULL, "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
+			g_warning( "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
 			vips_error_clear();
 			return;
 		}
diff --git a/libvips/arithmetic/measure.c b/libvips/arithmetic/measure.c
index 9e7c881e..5bbfcfb5 100644
--- a/libvips/arithmetic/measure.c
+++ b/libvips/arithmetic/measure.c
@@ -165,9 +165,11 @@ vips_measure_build( VipsObject *object )
 				 */
 				if( dev * 5 > VIPS_FABS( avg ) && 
 					VIPS_FABS( avg ) > 3 )
-					vips_warn( class->nickname,
-						_( "patch %d x %d, band %d: " 
-						   "avg = %g, sdev = %g" ), 
+					g_warning( _( "%s: "
+							"patch %d x %d, "
+							"band %d: " 
+							"avg = %g, sdev = %g" ), 
+						class->nickname,
 						i, j, b, avg, dev );
 
 				*VIPS_MATRIX( measure->out, 
diff --git a/libvips/colour/icc_transform.c b/libvips/colour/icc_transform.c
index 43c4c891..f41c12c9 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/icc_transform.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/icc_transform.c
@@ -193,9 +193,9 @@ static int
 icc_error( int code, const char *text )
 {
 	if( code == LCMS_ERRC_WARNING )
-		vips_warn( "VipsIcc", "%s", text );
+		g_warning( "%s", text );
 	else
-		vips_error( "VipsIcc", "%s", text );
+		vips_error( "VipsIcc", text );
 
 	return( 0 );
 }
@@ -452,9 +452,9 @@ vips_check_intent( const char *domain,
 {
 	if( profile &&
 		!cmsIsIntentSupported( profile, intent, direction ) )
-		vips_warn( domain,
-			_( "intent %d (%s) not supported by "
+		g_warning( _( "%s: intent %d (%s) not supported by "
 			"%s profile; falling back to default intent" ), 
+			domain, 
 			intent, vips_enum_nick( VIPS_TYPE_INTENT, intent ),
 			direction == LCMS_USED_AS_INPUT ?
 				_( "input" ) : _( "output" ) );
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ vips_image_expected_bands( VipsImage *image )
 }
 
 static cmsHPROFILE
-vips_icc_load_profile_image( const char *domain, VipsImage *image )
+vips_icc_load_profile_image( VipsImage *image )
 {
 	void *data;
 	size_t data_length;
@@ -554,15 +554,15 @@ vips_icc_load_profile_image( const char *domain, VipsImage *image )
 	if( vips_image_get_blob( image, VIPS_META_ICC_NAME, 
 		&data, &data_length ) ||
 		!(profile = cmsOpenProfileFromMem( data, data_length )) ) {
-		vips_warn( domain, "%s", _( "corrupt embedded profile" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "corrupt embedded profile" ) );
 		return( NULL ); 
 	}
 
 	if( vips_image_expected_bands( image ) != 
 		vips_icc_profile_needs_bands( profile ) ) {
 		VIPS_FREEF( cmsCloseProfile, profile );
-		vips_warn( domain, 
-			"%s", _( "embedded profile incompatible with image" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", 
+			_( "embedded profile incompatible with image" ) );
 		return( NULL );
 	}
 
@@ -584,8 +584,7 @@ vips_icc_load_profile_file( const char *domain,
 	if( vips_image_expected_bands( image ) != 
 		vips_icc_profile_needs_bands( profile ) ) {
 		VIPS_FREEF( cmsCloseProfile, profile );
-		vips_warn( domain, 
-			_( "profile \"%s\" incompatible with image" ),
+		g_warning( _( "profile \"%s\" incompatible with image" ),
 			filename );
 		return( NULL );
 	}
@@ -615,8 +614,7 @@ vips_icc_import_build( VipsObject *object )
 	if( code->in &&
 		(import->embedded ||
 			!import->input_profile_filename) )
-		icc->in_profile = vips_icc_load_profile_image( class->nickname,
-			code->in );
+		icc->in_profile = vips_icc_load_profile_image( code->in );
 
 	if( !icc->in_profile &&
 		code->in &&
@@ -1027,8 +1025,7 @@ vips_icc_transform_build( VipsObject *object )
 	if( code->in &&
 		(transform->embedded ||
 			!transform->input_profile_filename) )
-		icc->in_profile = vips_icc_load_profile_image( class->nickname,
-			code->in );
+		icc->in_profile = vips_icc_load_profile_image( code->in );
 
 	if( !icc->in_profile &&
 		code->in &&
diff --git a/libvips/conversion/cast.c b/libvips/conversion/cast.c
index 3e4bb0fb..6e658ee5 100644
--- a/libvips/conversion/cast.c
+++ b/libvips/conversion/cast.c
@@ -126,11 +126,9 @@ vips_cast_preeval( VipsImage *image, VipsProgress *progress, VipsCast *cast )
 static void
 vips_cast_posteval( VipsImage *image, VipsProgress *progress, VipsCast *cast )
 {
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( cast );
-
-	if( cast->overflow || cast->underflow ) 
-		vips_warn( class->nickname, 
-			_( "%d underflows and %d overflows detected" ),
+	if( cast->overflow || 
+		cast->underflow ) 
+		g_warning( _( "%d underflows and %d overflows detected" ),
 			cast->underflow, cast->overflow );
 }
 
diff --git a/libvips/conversion/copy.c b/libvips/conversion/copy.c
index ff3ee88e..168a0281 100644
--- a/libvips/conversion/copy.c
+++ b/libvips/conversion/copy.c
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ vips_copy_build( VipsObject *object )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	if( copy->swap ) 
-		vips_warn( class->nickname, "%s", 
+		g_warning( "%s", 
 			_( "copy swap is deprecated, use byteswap instead" ) );
 
 	if( vips_image_pipelinev( conversion->out, 
diff --git a/libvips/conversion/sequential.c b/libvips/conversion/sequential.c
index 62b19c35..0942c2a1 100644
--- a/libvips/conversion/sequential.c
+++ b/libvips/conversion/sequential.c
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ vips_sequential_generate( VipsRegion *or,
 	void *seq, void *a, void *b, gboolean *stop )
 {
 	VipsSequential *sequential = (VipsSequential *) b;
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( sequential );
         VipsRect *r = &or->valid;
 	VipsRegion *ir = (VipsRegion *) seq;
 
@@ -132,8 +131,7 @@ vips_sequential_generate( VipsRegion *or,
 		g_thread_self(), r->top, r->height );
 
 	if( sequential->trace )
-		vips_info( class->nickname, 
-			"request for line %d, height %d", 
+		g_info( "request for line %d, height %d", 
 			r->top, r->height );
 
 	VIPS_GATE_START( "vips_sequential_generate: wait" );
diff --git a/libvips/conversion/tilecache.c b/libvips/conversion/tilecache.c
index d7299d0e..789e73a6 100644
--- a/libvips/conversion/tilecache.c
+++ b/libvips/conversion/tilecache.c
@@ -605,7 +605,6 @@ vips_tile_cache_gen( VipsRegion *or,
 {
 	VipsRegion *in = (VipsRegion *) seq;
 	VipsBlockCache *cache = (VipsBlockCache *) b;
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( cache );
 	VipsRect *r = &or->valid;
 
 	VipsTile *tile;
@@ -702,8 +701,7 @@ vips_tile_cache_gen( VipsRegion *or,
 						"vips_tile_cache_gen: "
 						"error on tile %p\n", tile ); 
 
-					vips_warn( class->nickname,
-						_( "error in tile %d x %d" ),
+					g_warning( _( "error in tile %d x %d" ),
 						tile->pos.left, tile->pos.top );
 
 					vips_region_black( tile->region );
diff --git a/libvips/convolution/convi.c b/libvips/convolution/convi.c
index d11e3606..b7c6845c 100644
--- a/libvips/convolution/convi.c
+++ b/libvips/convolution/convi.c
@@ -860,7 +860,7 @@ intize_to_fixed_point( VipsImage *in, int *out )
 	for( i = 0; i < ne; i++ ) 
 		if( scaled[i] >= 4.0 ||
 			scaled[i] < -4 ) {
-			vips_info( "intize_to_fixed_point",
+			g_info( "intize_to_fixed_point: "
 				"out of range for vector path" );
 			return( -1 ); 
 		}
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ intize_to_fixed_point( VipsImage *in, int *out )
 	/* 0.1 is a 10% error.
 	 */
 	if( total_error > 0.1 ) {
-		vips_info( "intize_to_fixed_point", "too many underflows" );
+		g_info( "intize_to_fixed_point: too many underflows" );
 		return( -1 ); 
 	}
 
@@ -906,7 +906,6 @@ intize_to_fixed_point( VipsImage *in, int *out )
 static int
 vips_convi_build( VipsObject *object )
 {
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( object );
 	VipsConvolution *convolution = (VipsConvolution *) object;
 	VipsConvi *convi = (VipsConvi *) object;
 	VipsImage **t = (VipsImage **) vips_object_local_array( object, 4 );
@@ -941,7 +940,7 @@ vips_convi_build( VipsObject *object )
 			!intize_to_fixed_point( M, convi->fixed ) &&
 			!vips_convi_compile( convi, in ) ) {
 			generate = vips_convi_gen_vector;
-			vips_info( class->nickname, "using vector path" ); 
+			g_info( "using vector path" ); 
 		}
 		else
 			vips_convi_compile_free( convi );
@@ -980,7 +979,7 @@ vips_convi_build( VipsObject *object )
 		}
 
 		generate = vips_convi_gen;
-		vips_info( class->nickname, "using C path" ); 
+		g_info( "using C path" ); 
 	}
 
 	g_object_set( convi, "out", vips_image_new(), NULL ); 
diff --git a/libvips/convolution/gaussblur.c b/libvips/convolution/gaussblur.c
index 41800097..d5bfc29a 100644
--- a/libvips/convolution/gaussblur.c
+++ b/libvips/convolution/gaussblur.c
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ G_DEFINE_TYPE( VipsGaussblur, vips_gaussblur, VIPS_TYPE_OPERATION );
 static int
 vips_gaussblur_build( VipsObject *object )
 {
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( object );
 	VipsGaussblur *gaussblur = (VipsGaussblur *) object;
 	VipsImage **t = (VipsImage **) vips_object_local_array( object, 2 );
 
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ vips_gaussblur_build( VipsObject *object )
 	vips_matrixprint( t[0], NULL ); 
 #endif /*DEBUG*/
 
-	vips_info( class->nickname, "gaussblur mask width %d", t[0]->Xsize );
+	g_info( "gaussblur mask width %d", t[0]->Xsize );
 
 	if( vips_convsep( gaussblur->in, &t[1], t[0], 
 		"precision", gaussblur->precision,
diff --git a/libvips/deprecated/rename.c b/libvips/deprecated/rename.c
index 7285ffa9..9244cc33 100644
--- a/libvips/deprecated/rename.c
+++ b/libvips/deprecated/rename.c
@@ -724,3 +724,67 @@ vips_check_bands_3ormore( const char *domain, VipsImage *im )
 {
 	return( vips_check_bands_atleast( domain, im, 3 ) ); 
 }
+
+/* The old vips_info() stuff, now replaced by g_warning() / g_info().
+ */
+
+int vips__info = 0;
+
+void
+vips_info_set( gboolean info )
+{
+	vips__info = info;
+}
+
+void 
+vips_vinfo( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
+{
+	if( vips__info ) { 
+		g_mutex_lock( vips__global_lock );
+		(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), _( "info" ) );
+		if( domain )
+			(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), domain );
+		(void) vfprintf( stderr, fmt, ap );
+		(void) fprintf( stderr, "\n" );
+		g_mutex_unlock( vips__global_lock );
+	}
+}
+
+void 
+vips_info( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
+{
+	va_list ap;
+
+	va_start( ap, fmt );
+	vips_vinfo( domain, fmt, ap );
+	va_end( ap );
+}
+
+void 
+vips_vwarn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
+{	
+	if( !g_getenv( "IM_WARNING" ) &&
+		!g_getenv( "VIPS_WARNING" ) ) {
+		g_mutex_lock( vips__global_lock );
+		(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), _( "vips warning" ) );
+		if( domain )
+			(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), domain );
+		(void) vfprintf( stderr, fmt, ap );
+		(void) fprintf( stderr, "\n" );
+		g_mutex_unlock( vips__global_lock );
+	}
+
+	if( vips__fatal )
+		vips_error_exit( "vips__fatal" );
+}
+
+void 
+vips_warn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
+{	
+	va_list ap;
+
+	va_start( ap, fmt );
+	vips_vwarn( domain, fmt, ap );
+	va_end( ap );
+}
+
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/csv.c b/libvips/foreign/csv.c
index 95f71f18..70aae08c 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/csv.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/csv.c
@@ -195,8 +195,7 @@ read_double( FILE *fp, const char whitemap[256], const char sepmap[256],
 		/* Only a warning, since (for example) exported spreadsheets
 		 * will often have text or date fields.
 		 */
-		vips_warn( "csv2vips", 
-			_( "error parsing number, line %d, column %d" ),
+		g_warning( _( "error parsing number, line %d, column %d" ),
 			lineno, colno );
 		if( fail )
 			return( EOF ); 
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/dzsave.c b/libvips/foreign/dzsave.c
index f9897e8e..d35e55cb 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/dzsave.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/dzsave.c
@@ -1997,8 +1997,7 @@ vips_foreign_save_dz_build( VipsObject *object )
 
 #ifndef HAVE_GSF_DEFLATE_LEVEL
 		if( dz->compression > 0 ) {
-			vips_warn( class->nickname, "%s",
-				_( "deflate-level not supported by libgsf, "
+			g_warning( _( "deflate-level not supported by libgsf, "
 				"using default compression" ) ); 
 			dz->compression = -1;
 		}
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/foreign.c b/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
index ea7d03e3..65322c72 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
@@ -846,9 +846,9 @@ vips_foreign_load_build( VipsObject *object )
 
 	if( (flags & VIPS_FOREIGN_PARTIAL) &&
 		(flags & VIPS_FOREIGN_SEQUENTIAL) ) {
-		vips_warn( class->nickname, "%s", 
+		g_warning( "%s", 
 			_( "VIPS_FOREIGN_PARTIAL and VIPS_FOREIGN_SEQUENTIAL "
-			"both set -- using SEQUENTIAL" ) );
+				"both set -- using SEQUENTIAL" ) );
 		flags ^= VIPS_FOREIGN_PARTIAL;
 	}
 
@@ -865,12 +865,10 @@ vips_foreign_load_build( VipsObject *object )
 		build( object ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
-	if( load->sequential ) {
-		vips_warn( class->nickname, "%s", 
-			_( "ignoring deprecated \"sequential\" mode" ) ); 
-		vips_warn( class->nickname, "%s", 
-			_( "please use \"access\" instead" ) ); 
-	}
+	if( load->sequential ) 
+		g_warning( "%s", 
+			_( "ignoring deprecated \"sequential\" mode -- "
+				"please use \"access\" instead" ) ); 
 
 	g_object_set( object, "out", vips_image_new(), NULL ); 
 
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/gifload.c b/libvips/foreign/gifload.c
index 789598f1..5b347ac6 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/gifload.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/gifload.c
@@ -359,7 +359,6 @@ static void
 vips_foreign_load_gif_render_line( VipsForeignLoadGif *gif,
 	int width, VipsPel * restrict q, VipsPel * restrict p )
 {
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( gif );
 	ColorMapObject *map = gif->file->Image.ColorMap ?
 		gif->file->Image.ColorMap : gif->file->SColorMap;
 
@@ -369,8 +368,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_gif_render_line( VipsForeignLoadGif *gif,
 		VipsPel v = p[x];
 
 		if( v >= map->ColorCount ) {
-			vips_warn( class->nickname,
-				"%s", _( "pixel value out of range" ) );
+			g_warning( "%s", _( "pixel value out of range" ) );
 			continue;
 		}
 
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/jpeg2vips.c b/libvips/foreign/jpeg2vips.c
index 676ccd7e..dce2ed28 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/jpeg2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/jpeg2vips.c
@@ -192,10 +192,9 @@ readjpeg_free( ReadJpeg *jpeg )
 	result = 0;
 
 	if( jpeg->eman.pub.num_warnings != 0 ) {
-		vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", 
-			_( "read gave %ld warnings" ), 
+		g_warning( _( "read gave %ld warnings" ), 
 			jpeg->eman.pub.num_warnings );
-		vips_warn( NULL, "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
+		g_warning( "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
 
 		/* Make the message only appear once.
 		 */
@@ -575,8 +574,7 @@ res_from_exif( VipsImage *im, ExifData *ed )
 	if( get_entry_double( ed, 0, EXIF_TAG_X_RESOLUTION, &xres ) ||
 		get_entry_double( ed, 0, EXIF_TAG_Y_RESOLUTION, &yres ) ||
 		get_entry_int( ed, 0, EXIF_TAG_RESOLUTION_UNIT, &unit ) ) {
-		vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", 
-			"%s", _( "error reading resolution" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "error reading resolution" ) );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
 
@@ -612,8 +610,7 @@ res_from_exif( VipsImage *im, ExifData *ed )
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", 
-			"%s", _( "unknown EXIF resolution unit" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "unknown EXIF resolution unit" ) );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
 
@@ -827,8 +824,7 @@ read_jpeg_header( ReadJpeg *jpeg, VipsImage *out )
 			break;
 
 		default:
-			vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", 
-				"%s", _( "unknown JFIF resolution unit" ) );
+			g_warning( "%s", _( "unknown JFIF resolution unit" ) );
 			break;
 		}
 
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/ppm.c b/libvips/foreign/ppm.c
index 22315526..9a7677f5 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/ppm.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/ppm.c
@@ -799,9 +799,8 @@ vips__ppm_save( VipsImage *in, const char *filename,
 
 	if( ascii && 
 		in->BandFmt == VIPS_FORMAT_FLOAT ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips2ppm", 
-			"%s", _( "float images must be binary -- "
-				"disabling ascii" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", 
+			_( "float images must be binary -- disabling ascii" ) );
 		ascii = FALSE;
 	}
 
@@ -810,8 +809,8 @@ vips__ppm_save( VipsImage *in, const char *filename,
 	if( squash && 
 		(in->Bands != 1 || 
 		 in->BandFmt != VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR) ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips2ppm", 
-			"%s", _( "can only squash 1 band uchar images -- "
+		g_warning( "%s", 
+			_( "can only squash 1 band uchar images -- " 
 				"disabling squash" ) );
 		squash = FALSE; 
 	}
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/tiff.c b/libvips/foreign/tiff.c
index 07bf926d..dd9bdcd2 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/tiff.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/tiff.c
@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@
 #include "tiff.h"
 
 /* Handle TIFF errors here. Shared with vips2tiff.c. These can be called from
- * more than one thread, but vips_error and vips_warn have mutexes in, so that's
- * OK.
+ * more than one thread.
  */
 static void 
 vips__thandler_error( const char *module, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
@@ -73,10 +72,7 @@ vips__thandler_error( const char *module, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
 static void 
 vips__thandler_warning( const char *module, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
 {
-	char buf[256];
-
-	vips_vsnprintf( buf, 256, fmt, ap );
-	vips_warn( module, "%s", buf );
+	g_logv( G_LOG_DOMAIN, G_LOG_LEVEL_WARNING, fmt, ap );
 }
 
 /* Call this during startup. Other libraries may be using libtiff and we want
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/tiff2vips.c b/libvips/foreign/tiff2vips.c
index 0ec28d7f..5fae35ce 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/tiff2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/tiff2vips.c
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ get_resolution( TIFF *tiff, VipsImage *out )
 		}
 	}
 	else {
-		vips_warn( "tiff2vips", _( "no resolution information for "
+		g_warning( _( "no resolution information for "
 			"TIFF image \"%s\" -- defaulting to 1 pixel per mm" ), 
 			TIFFFileName( tiff ) );
 		x = 1.0;
@@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ rtiff_parse_palette( Rtiff *rtiff, VipsImage *out )
 			read->blue8[i] = read->blue16[i] >> 8;
 		}
 	else {
-		vips_warn( "tiff2vips", "%s", _( "assuming 8-bit palette" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "assuming 8-bit palette" ) );
 
 		for( i = 0; i < len; i++ ) {
 			read->red8[i] = read->red16[i] & 0xff;
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/vips2jpeg.c b/libvips/foreign/vips2jpeg.c
index 9a6834b3..83ba17bc 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/vips2jpeg.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/vips2jpeg.c
@@ -495,8 +495,7 @@ vips__set_exif_resolution( ExifData *ed, VipsImage *im )
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", 
-			"%s", _( "unknown EXIF resolution unit" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "unknown EXIF resolution unit" ) );
 		return( 0 );
 	}
 
@@ -626,7 +625,7 @@ vips_exif_image_field( VipsImage *image,
 	/* value must be a string.
 	 */
 	if( vips_image_get_string( image, field, &string ) ) {
-		vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", _( "bad exif meta \"%s\"" ), field );
+		g_warning( _( "bad exif meta \"%s\"" ), field );
 		return( NULL ); 
 	}
 
@@ -636,12 +635,12 @@ vips_exif_image_field( VipsImage *image,
 	for( ; isdigit( *p ); p++ )
 		;
 	if( *p != '-' ) {
-		vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", _( "bad exif meta \"%s\"" ), field );
+		g_warning( _( "bad exif meta \"%s\"" ), field );
 		return( NULL ); 
 	}
 
 	if( !(tag = exif_tag_from_name( p + 1 )) ) {
-		vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", _( "bad exif meta \"%s\"" ), field );
+		g_warning( _( "bad exif meta \"%s\"" ), field );
 		return( NULL ); 
 	}
 
@@ -764,7 +763,7 @@ write_blob( Write *write, const char *field, int app )
 		 * For now, just ignore oversize objects and warn.
 		 */
 		if( data_length > 65530 ) 
-			vips_warn( "VipsJpeg", _( "field \"%s\" is too large "
+			g_warning( _( "field \"%s\" is too large "
 				"for a single JPEG marker, ignoring" ), 
 				field );
 		else {
@@ -1082,8 +1081,7 @@ write_vips( Write *write, int qfac, const char *profile,
 			write->cinfo.optimize_coding = TRUE;
 		}
 		else 
-			vips_warn( "vips2jpeg", 
-				"%s", _( "trellis_quant unsupported" ) );
+			g_warning( "%s", _( "trellis_quant unsupported" ) );
 	}
 
 	/* Apply overshooting to samples with extreme values e.g. 0 & 255 
@@ -1095,8 +1093,8 @@ write_vips( Write *write, int qfac, const char *profile,
 			jpeg_c_set_bool_param( &write->cinfo,
 				JBOOLEAN_OVERSHOOT_DERINGING, TRUE );
 		else 
-			vips_warn( "vips2jpeg", 
-				"%s", _( "overshoot_deringing unsupported" ) );
+			g_warning( "%s", 
+				_( "overshoot_deringing unsupported" ) );
 	}
 	/* Split the spectrum of DCT coefficients into separate scans.
 	 * Requires progressive output. Must be set before 
@@ -1109,12 +1107,12 @@ write_vips( Write *write, int qfac, const char *profile,
 				jpeg_c_set_bool_param( &write->cinfo, 
 					JBOOLEAN_OPTIMIZE_SCANS, TRUE );
 			else 
-				vips_warn( "vips2jpeg", 
-					"%s", _( "Ignoring optimize_scans" ) );
+				g_warning( "%s", 
+					_( "ignoring optimize_scans" ) );
 		}
 		else 
-			vips_warn( "vips2jpeg", "%s",
-				_( "Ignoring optimize_scans for baseline" ) );
+			g_warning( "%s", 
+				_( "ignoring optimize_scans for baseline" ) );
 	}
 
 	/* Use predefined quantization table.
@@ -1125,22 +1123,21 @@ write_vips( Write *write, int qfac, const char *profile,
 			jpeg_c_set_int_param( &write->cinfo,
 				JINT_BASE_QUANT_TBL_IDX, quant_table );
 		else
-			vips_warn( "vips2jpeg",
-				"%s", _( "Setting quant_table unsupported" ) );
+			g_warning( "%s", 
+				_( "setting quant_table unsupported" ) );
 	}
 #else
 	/* Using jpeglib.h without extension parameters, warn of ignored 
 	 * options.
 	 */
 	if( trellis_quant ) 
-		vips_warn( "vips2jpeg", "%s", _( "Ignoring trellis_quant" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "ignoring trellis_quant" ) );
 	if( overshoot_deringing ) 
-		vips_warn( "vips2jpeg", 
-			"%s", _( "Ignoring overshoot_deringing" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "ignoring overshoot_deringing" ) );
 	if( optimize_scans ) 
-		vips_warn( "vips2jpeg", "%s", _( "Ignoring optimize_scans" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "ignoring optimize_scans" ) );
 	if( quant_table > 0 )
-		vips_warn( "vips2jpeg", "%s", _( "Ignoring quant_table" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "ignoring quant_table" ) );
 #endif
 
 	/* Set compression quality. Must be called after setting params above.
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/vips2tiff.c b/libvips/foreign/vips2tiff.c
index 8cd9f744..3f3858cf 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/vips2tiff.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/vips2tiff.c
@@ -464,8 +464,7 @@ wtiff_embed_ipct( Wtiff *wtiff, TIFF *tif )
 	 * long, not byte.
 	 */
 	if( data_length & 3 ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips2tiff", 
-			"%s", _( "rounding up IPCT data length" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "rounding up IPCT data length" ) );
 		data_length /= 4;
 		data_length += 1;
 	}
@@ -958,8 +957,8 @@ wtiff_new( VipsImage *im, const char *filename,
 		/* We can't pyramid toilet roll images.
 		 */
 		if( wtiff->pyramid ) {
-			vips_warn( "vips2tiff",
-				"%s", _( "can't pyramid multi page images --- "
+			g_warning( "%s", 
+				_( "can't pyramid multi page images --- "
 					"disabling pyramid" ) ); 
 			wtiff->pyramid = FALSE;
 		}
@@ -995,16 +994,16 @@ wtiff_new( VipsImage *im, const char *filename,
 		(im->Coding != VIPS_CODING_NONE || 
 			im->BandFmt != VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR ||
 			im->Bands != 1) ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips2tiff", 
-			"%s", _( "can only squash 1 band uchar images -- "
+		g_warning( "%s",
+			_( "can only squash 1 band uchar images -- "
 				"disabling squash" ) );
 		wtiff->onebit = 0;
 	}
 
 	if( wtiff->onebit && 
 		wtiff->compression == COMPRESSION_JPEG ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips2tiff", 
-			"%s", _( "can't have 1-bit JPEG -- disabling JPEG" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", 
+			_( "can't have 1-bit JPEG -- disabling JPEG" ) );
 		wtiff->compression = COMPRESSION_NONE;
 	}
  
@@ -1014,8 +1013,8 @@ wtiff_new( VipsImage *im, const char *filename,
 		(im->Coding != VIPS_CODING_NONE || 
 			vips_band_format_iscomplex( im->BandFmt ) ||
 			im->Bands > 2) ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips2tiff", 
-			"%s", _( "can only save non-complex greyscale images "
+		g_warning( "%s", 
+			_( "can only save non-complex greyscale images "
 				"as miniswhite -- disabling miniswhite" ) );
 		wtiff->miniswhite = FALSE;
 	}
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/vips2webp.c b/libvips/foreign/vips2webp.c
index 662aae5b..7d3f49e0 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/vips2webp.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/vips2webp.c
@@ -161,11 +161,9 @@ write_webp( WebPPicture *pic, VipsImage *in,
 	pic->use_argb = lossless || near_lossless || smart_subsample;
 #else
 	if( lossless || near_lossless )
-		vips_warn( "vips2webp", 
-			"%s", _( "lossless unsupported" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "lossless unsupported" ) );
 	if( alpha_q != 100 )
-		vips_warn( "vips2webp", 
-			"%s", _( "alpha_q unsupported" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "alpha_q unsupported" ) );
 #endif
 
 #if WEBP_ENCODER_ABI_VERSION >= 0x0209
@@ -175,11 +173,9 @@ write_webp( WebPPicture *pic, VipsImage *in,
 		config.preprocessing |= 4;
 #else
 	if( near_lossless )
-		vips_warn( "vips2webp", 
-			"%s", _( "near_lossless unsupported" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "near_lossless unsupported" ) );
 	if( smart_subsample )
-		vips_warn( "vips2webp", 
-			"%s", _( "smart_subsample unsupported" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "smart_subsample unsupported" ) );
 #endif
 
 	if( !WebPValidateConfig( &config ) ) {
diff --git a/libvips/histogram/maplut.c b/libvips/histogram/maplut.c
index 09631b95..95cb7054 100644
--- a/libvips/histogram/maplut.c
+++ b/libvips/histogram/maplut.c
@@ -106,11 +106,8 @@ static void
 vips_maplut_posteval( VipsImage *image, VipsProgress *progress, 
 	VipsMaplut *maplut )
 {
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( maplut );
-
 	if( maplut->overflow )
-		vips_warn( class->nickname, 
-			_( "%d overflows detected" ), maplut->overflow );
+		g_warning( _( "%d overflows detected" ), maplut->overflow );
 }
 
 /* Our sequence value: the region this sequence is using, and local stats.
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/almostdeprecated.h b/libvips/include/vips/almostdeprecated.h
index c16bf350..26d90937 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/almostdeprecated.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/almostdeprecated.h
@@ -284,6 +284,14 @@ int im_plotpoint( IMAGE *im, int x, int y, PEL *pel );
 int im_smudge( IMAGE *image, int ix, int iy, VipsRect *r );
 int im_smear( IMAGE *im, int ix, int iy, VipsRect *r );
 
+void vips_warn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
+	__attribute__((format(printf, 2, 3)));
+void vips_vwarn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap );
+void vips_info_set( gboolean info );
+void vips_info( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
+	__attribute__((format(printf, 2, 3)));
+void vips_vinfo( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap );
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif /*__cplusplus*/
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/error.h b/libvips/include/vips/error.h
index 6afa66cf..1b697afa 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/error.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/error.h
@@ -50,13 +50,6 @@ void vips_verror_system( int err, const char *domain,
 	const char *fmt, va_list ap );
 void vips_error_g( GError **error );
 void vips_g_error( GError **error );
-void vips_warn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
-	__attribute__((format(printf, 2, 3)));
-void vips_vwarn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap );
-void vips_info_set( gboolean info );
-void vips_info( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
-	__attribute__((format(printf, 2, 3)));
-void vips_vinfo( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap );
 
 void vips_error_exit( const char *fmt, ... )
 	__attribute__((noreturn, format(printf, 1, 2)));
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/vips.h b/libvips/include/vips/vips.h
index cb21d52d..30be4706 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/vips.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/vips.h
@@ -166,12 +166,10 @@ extern "C" {
 #define VIPS_INIT( ARGV0 ) \
 	(vips_version( 3 ) - vips_version( 5 ) != \
 	 	VIPS_LIBRARY_CURRENT - VIPS_LIBRARY_AGE ? ( \
-		vips_info( "vips_init", "ABI mismatch" ), \
-		vips_info( "vips_init", \
-			"library has ABI version %d", \
+		g_warning( "ABI mismatch" ), \
+		g_warning( "library has ABI version %d", \
 			vips_version( 3 ) - vips_version( 5 ) ), \
-		vips_info( "vips_init", \
-			"application needs ABI version %d", \
+		g_warning( "application needs ABI version %d", \
 			VIPS_LIBRARY_CURRENT - VIPS_LIBRARY_AGE ), \
 		vips_error( "vips_init", "ABI mismatch" ), \
 		-1 ) : \
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/error.c b/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
index d1f53d8b..546a4e2c 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
@@ -105,10 +105,6 @@
  * supposed to indicate the component which failed.
  */
 
-/* Show info messages. Handy for debugging. 
- */
-int vips__info = 0;
-
 /* Make global array to keep the error message buffer.
  */
 #define VIPS_MAX_ERROR (10240)
@@ -371,125 +367,6 @@ vips_error_clear( void )
 	g_mutex_unlock( vips__global_lock );
 }
 
-/**
- * vips_info_set:
- * @info: %TRUE to enable info messages
- *
- * If set, vips will output various informative messages to stderr as it works.
- *
- * See also: vips_info().
- */
-void
-vips_info_set( gboolean info )
-{
-	vips__info = info;
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_vinfo: 
- * @domain: the source of the message
- * @fmt: printf()-style format string for the message
- * @ap: arguments to the format string
- *
- * Sends a formatted informational message to stderr if the --vips-info flag
- * has been given to the program, or the environment variable VIPS_INFO has been
- * defined, or if vips_info_set() has been called. 
- *
- * Informational messages are used to report details about the operation of
- * functions.
- *
- * See also: vips_info(), vips_info_set(), vips_warn().
- */
-void 
-vips_vinfo( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
-{
-	if( vips__info ) { 
-		g_mutex_lock( vips__global_lock );
-		(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), _( "info" ) );
-		if( domain )
-			(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), domain );
-		(void) vfprintf( stderr, fmt, ap );
-		(void) fprintf( stderr, "\n" );
-		g_mutex_unlock( vips__global_lock );
-	}
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_info: 
- * @domain: the source of the diagnostic message
- * @fmt: printf()-style format string for the message
- * @...: arguments to the format string
- *
- * Sends a formatted informational message to stderr if the --vips-info flag
- * has been given to the program or the environment variable VIPS_INFO has been
- * defined, or if vips_info_set() has been called. 
- *
- * Informational messages are used to report details about the operation of
- * functions.
- *
- * See also: vips_info_set(), vips_vinfo(), vips_warn().
- */
-void 
-vips_info( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
-{
-	va_list ap;
-
-	va_start( ap, fmt );
-	vips_vinfo( domain, fmt, ap );
-	va_end( ap );
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_vwarn: 
- * @domain: the source of the warning message
- * @fmt: printf()-style format string for the message
- * @ap: arguments to the format string
- *
- * Exactly as vips_warn(), but takes a va_list argument. 
- *
- * See also: vips_warn().
- */
-void 
-vips_vwarn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
-{	
-	if( !g_getenv( "IM_WARNING" ) &&
-		!g_getenv( "VIPS_WARNING" ) ) {
-		g_mutex_lock( vips__global_lock );
-		(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), _( "vips warning" ) );
-		if( domain )
-			(void) fprintf( stderr, _( "%s: " ), domain );
-		(void) vfprintf( stderr, fmt, ap );
-		(void) fprintf( stderr, "\n" );
-		g_mutex_unlock( vips__global_lock );
-	}
-
-	if( vips__fatal )
-		vips_error_exit( "vips__fatal" );
-}
-
-/**
- * vips_warn: 
- * @domain: the source of the warning message
- * @fmt: printf()-style format string for the message
- * @...: arguments to the format string
- *
- * Sends a formatted warning message to stderr. If you define the
- * environment variable VIPS_WARNING, these message are supressed.
- *
- * Warning messages are used to report things like overflow counts.
- *
- * See also: vips_info(), vips_vwarn().
- */
-void 
-vips_warn( const char *domain, const char *fmt, ... )
-{	
-	va_list ap;
-
-	va_start( ap, fmt );
-	vips_vwarn( domain, fmt, ap );
-	va_end( ap );
-}
-
 /**
  * vips_error_exit: 
  * @fmt: printf()-style format string for the message
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/gate.c b/libvips/iofuncs/gate.c
index 41f72978..84dcbcc2 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/gate.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/gate.c
@@ -143,8 +143,7 @@ vips_thread_profile_save( VipsThreadProfile *profile )
 			vips__file_open_write( "vips-profile.txt", TRUE );
 		if( !vips__thread_fp ) {
 			g_mutex_unlock( vips__global_lock );
-			vips_warn( "VipsGate", 
-				"%s", "unable to create profile log" ); 
+			g_warning( "unable to create profile log" ); 
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -204,8 +203,7 @@ vips__thread_profile_init_cb( VipsThreadProfile *profile )
 	 * been called. 
 	 */
 	if( vips__thread_profile ) 
-		vips_warn( "VipsGate", 
-			"discarding unsaved state for thread %p --- "
+		g_warning( "discarding unsaved state for thread %p --- "
 			"call vips_thread_shutdown() for this thread",
 			profile->thread ); 
 
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/generate.c b/libvips/iofuncs/generate.c
index e24cd1d7..58a9c013 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/generate.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/generate.c
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ vips_image_pipelinev( VipsImage *image, VipsDemandStyle hint, ... )
 		;
 	va_end( ap );
 	if( i == MAX_IMAGES ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips_image_pipeline", "%s", _( "too many images" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "too many images" ) );
 
 		/* Make sure we have a sentinel there.
 		 */
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/image.c b/libvips/iofuncs/image.c
index 50627744..79475600 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/image.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/image.c
@@ -1006,8 +1006,7 @@ vips_image_build( VipsObject *object )
 		 * still be able to process it without coredumps.
 		 */
 		if( image->file_length > sizeof_image ) 
-			vips_warn( "VipsImage", 
-				_( "%s is longer than expected" ),
+			g_warning( _( "%s is longer than expected" ),
 				image->filename );
 		break;
 
@@ -2590,9 +2589,8 @@ vips_image_write_to_memory( VipsImage *in, size_t *size_out )
 		vips_error( "vips_image_write_to_memory", 
 			_( "out of memory --- size == %dMB" ), 
 			(int) (size / (1024.0 * 1024.0))  );
-		vips_warn( "vips_image_write_to_memory", 
-			_( "out of memory --- size == %dMB" ), 
-			(int) (size / (1024.0*1024.0))  );
+		g_warning( _( "out of memory --- size == %dMB" ), 
+			(int) (size / (1024.0 * 1024.0))  );
 		return( NULL );
 	}
 
@@ -3143,8 +3141,7 @@ vips_image_wio_input( VipsImage *image )
 		 * generate from this image.
 		 */
 		if( image->regions ) 
-			vips_warn( "vips_image_wio_input", "%s",
-				"rewinding image with active regions" ); 
+			g_warning( "rewinding image with active regions" ); 
 
 		break;
 
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/init.c b/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
index 3aa7a4c4..a851f354 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
@@ -226,10 +226,8 @@ vips_load_plugins( const char *fmt, ... )
 
 			module = g_module_open( path, G_MODULE_BIND_LAZY );
 			if( !module ) {
-				vips_warn( "vips_init", 
-					_( "unable to load \"%s\" -- %s" ), 
-					path, 
-					g_module_error() ); 
+				g_warning( _( "unable to load \"%s\" -- %s" ), 
+					path, g_module_error() ); 
 				result = -1;
 			}
                 }
@@ -343,11 +341,14 @@ vips_init( const char *argv0 )
 	bindtextdomain( GETTEXT_PACKAGE, name );
 	bind_textdomain_codeset( GETTEXT_PACKAGE, "UTF-8" );
 
-	/* Default various settings from env.
+	/* Deprecated, this is just for compat.
 	 */
 	if( g_getenv( "VIPS_INFO" ) || 
 		g_getenv( "IM_INFO" ) ) 
 		vips_info_set( TRUE );
+
+	/* Default various settings from env.
+	 */
 	if( g_getenv( "VIPS_TRACE" ) )
 		vips_cache_set_trace( TRUE );
 
@@ -391,7 +392,7 @@ vips_init( const char *argv0 )
 	 */
 	if( im_load_plugins( "%s/vips-%d.%d", 
 		libdir, VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION, VIPS_MINOR_VERSION ) ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips_init", "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
+		g_warning( "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
 		vips_error_clear();
 	}
 
@@ -399,7 +400,7 @@ vips_init( const char *argv0 )
 	 * :-( kept for back compat convenience.
 	 */
 	if( im_load_plugins( "%s", libdir ) ) {
-		vips_warn( "vips_init", "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
+		g_warning( "%s", vips_error_buffer() );
 		vips_error_clear();
 	}
 
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/mapfile.c b/libvips/iofuncs/mapfile.c
index 3c7c3e3d..37e1cf90 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/mapfile.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/mapfile.c
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ vips__mmap( int fd, int writeable, size_t length, gint64 offset )
 	if( baseaddr == MAP_FAILED ) { 
 		vips_error_system( errno, "vips_mapfile", 
 			"%s", _( "unable to mmap" ) );
-		vips_warn( "vips_mapfile", _( "map failed (%s), "
+		g_warning( _( "map failed (%s), "
 			"running very low on system resources, "
 			"expect a crash soon" ), strerror( errno ) );
 		return( NULL ); 
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/memory.c b/libvips/iofuncs/memory.c
index c45dbdc1..58686750 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/memory.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/memory.c
@@ -248,11 +248,9 @@ vips_tracked_free( void *s )
 	g_mutex_lock( vips_tracked_mutex );
 
 	if( vips_tracked_allocs <= 0 ) 
-		vips_warn( "vips_tracked", 
-			"%s", _( "vips_free: too many frees" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "vips_free: too many frees" ) );
 	if( vips_tracked_mem < size )
-		vips_warn( "vips_tracked", 
-			"%s", _( "vips_free: too much free" ) );
+		g_warning( "%s", _( "vips_free: too much free" ) );
 
 	vips_tracked_mem -= size;
 	vips_tracked_allocs -= 1;
@@ -310,8 +308,7 @@ vips_tracked_malloc( size_t size )
 		vips_error( "vips_tracked", 
 			_( "out of memory --- size == %dMB" ), 
 			(int) (size / (1024.0 * 1024.0))  );
-		vips_warn( "vips_tracked", 
-			_( "out of memory --- size == %dMB" ), 
+		g_warning( _( "out of memory --- size == %dMB" ), 
 			(int) (size / (1024.0 * 1024.0))  );
 
                 return( NULL );
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c b/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
index 6bd7fb85..4dfd5905 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
@@ -221,12 +221,8 @@ vips_operation_finalize( GObject *gobject )
 
 	VIPS_DEBUG_MSG( "vips_operation_finalize: %p\n", gobject );
 
-	if( operation->pixels ) {
-		VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( gobject );
-
-		vips_info( class->nickname, 
-			_( "%d pixels calculated" ), operation->pixels ); 
-	}
+	if( operation->pixels ) 
+		g_info( _( "%d pixels calculated" ), operation->pixels ); 
 
 	G_OBJECT_CLASS( vips_operation_parent_class )->finalize( gobject );
 }
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/region.c b/libvips/iofuncs/region.c
index 766f2104..0ecc619e 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/region.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/region.c
@@ -269,8 +269,7 @@ vips__region_stop( VipsRegion *region )
 		 * can really do with it, sadly.
 		 */
 		if( result )
-                        vips_warn( "VipsRegion", 
-				"stop callback failed for image %s", 
+                        g_warning( "stop callback failed for image %s", 
 				image->filename );
  
                 region->seq = NULL;
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/system.c b/libvips/iofuncs/system.c
index 6357f869..4a7ea5ee 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/system.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/system.c
@@ -231,8 +231,7 @@ vips_system_build( VipsObject *object )
 	if( std_error ) {
 		vips__chomp( std_error ); 
 		if( strcmp( std_error, "" ) != 0 )
-			vips_warn( class->nickname, 
-				_( "stderr output: %s" ), std_error ); 
+			g_warning( _( "stderr output: %s" ), std_error ); 
 	}
 	if( std_output ) {
 		vips__chomp( std_output ); 
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/threadpool.c b/libvips/iofuncs/threadpool.c
index 172f92cc..68640805 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/threadpool.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/threadpool.c
@@ -407,8 +407,7 @@ vips_concurrency_get( void )
 	if( nthr < 1 || nthr > MAX_THREADS ) {
 		nthr = VIPS_CLIP( 1, nthr, MAX_THREADS );
 
-		vips_warn( "vips_concurrency_get", 
-			_( "threads clipped to %d" ), nthr );
+		g_warning( _( "threads clipped to %d" ), nthr );
 	}
 
 	/* Save for next time around.
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c b/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
index f405c3ad..65b71889 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/vector.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ vips_vector_error( VipsVector *vector )
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_ORC_PROGRAM_GET_ERROR
 	if( vector->program )
-		vips_warn( "VipsVector", "orc error: %s", 
+		g_warning( "orc error: %s", 
 			orc_program_get_error( vector->program ) ); 
 #endif /*HAVE_ORC_PROGRAM_GET_ERROR*/
 }
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/vips.c b/libvips/iofuncs/vips.c
index ef44ad6a..749007ff 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/vips.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/vips.c
@@ -915,8 +915,7 @@ vips_image_open_input( VipsImage *image )
 		return( -1 );
 	image->file_length = rsize;
 	if( psize > rsize )
-		vips_warn( "VipsImage", 
-			_( "unable to read data for \"%s\", %s" ),
+		g_warning( _( "unable to read data for \"%s\", %s" ),
 			image->filename, _( "file has been truncated" ) );
 
 	/* Set demand style. This suits a disc file we read sequentially.
@@ -928,8 +927,7 @@ vips_image_open_input( VipsImage *image )
 	 * harmless.
 	 */
 	if( readhist( image ) ) {
-		vips_warn( "VipsImage", _( "error reading XML: %s" ),
-			vips_error_buffer() );
+		g_warning( _( "error reading XML: %s" ), vips_error_buffer() );
 		vips_error_clear();
 	}
 
diff --git a/libvips/resample/reduceh.cpp b/libvips/resample/reduceh.cpp
index 0fda98eb..52ec7d3d 100644
--- a/libvips/resample/reduceh.cpp
+++ b/libvips/resample/reduceh.cpp
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ vips_reduceh_build( VipsObject *object )
 	 */
 	reduceh->n_point = 
 		vips_reduce_get_points( reduceh->kernel, reduceh->hshrink ); 
-	vips_info( object_class->nickname, "%d point mask", reduceh->n_point );
+	g_info( "%d point mask", reduceh->n_point );
 	if( reduceh->n_point > MAX_POINT ) {
 		vips_error( object_class->nickname, 
 			"%s", _( "reduce factor too large" ) );
diff --git a/libvips/resample/reducev.cpp b/libvips/resample/reducev.cpp
index b8017ebc..63a03c43 100644
--- a/libvips/resample/reducev.cpp
+++ b/libvips/resample/reducev.cpp
@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ vips_reducev_raw( VipsReducev *reducev, VipsImage *in )
 	if( in->BandFmt == VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR &&
 		vips_vector_isenabled() &&
 		!vips_reducev_compile( reducev ) ) {
-		vips_info( object_class->nickname, "using vector path" ); 
+		g_info( "using vector path" ); 
 		generate = vips_reducev_vector_gen;
 	}
 
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ vips_reducev_build( VipsObject *object )
 			"%s", _( "reduce factor too large" ) );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
-	vips_info( object_class->nickname, "%d point mask", reducev->n_point );
+	g_info( "%d point mask", reducev->n_point );
 
 	/* Unpack for processing.
 	 */
diff --git a/libvips/resample/resize.c b/libvips/resample/resize.c
index 59d963c8..419717e5 100644
--- a/libvips/resample/resize.c
+++ b/libvips/resample/resize.c
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ vips_resize_interpolate( VipsKernel kernel )
 static int
 vips_resize_build( VipsObject *object )
 {
-	VipsObjectClass *class = VIPS_OBJECT_GET_CLASS( object );
 	VipsResample *resample = VIPS_RESAMPLE( object );
 	VipsResize *resize = (VipsResize *) object;
 
@@ -186,7 +185,7 @@ vips_resize_build( VipsObject *object )
 	int_vshrink = vips_resize_int_shrink( resize, vscale );
 
 	if( int_vshrink > 1 ) { 
-		vips_info( class->nickname, "shrinkv by %d", int_vshrink );
+		g_info( "shrinkv by %d", int_vshrink );
 		if( vips_shrinkv( in, &t[0], int_vshrink, NULL ) )
 			return( -1 );
 		in = t[0];
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ vips_resize_build( VipsObject *object )
 	}
 
 	if( int_hshrink > 1 ) { 
-		vips_info( class->nickname, "shrinkh by %d", int_hshrink );
+		g_info( "shrinkh by %d", int_hshrink );
 		if( vips_shrinkh( in, &t[1], int_hshrink, NULL ) )
 			return( -1 );
 		in = t[1];
@@ -251,8 +250,7 @@ vips_resize_build( VipsObject *object )
 	/* Any residual downsizing.
 	 */
 	if( vscale < 1.0 ) { 
-		vips_info( class->nickname, "residual reducev by %g", 
-			vscale );
+		g_info( "residual reducev by %g", vscale );
 		if( vips_reducev( in, &t[2], 1.0 / vscale, 
 			"kernel", resize->kernel, 
 			"centre", resize->centre, 
@@ -262,7 +260,7 @@ vips_resize_build( VipsObject *object )
 	}
 
 	if( hscale < 1.0 ) { 
-		vips_info( class->nickname, "residual reduceh by %g", 
+		g_info( "residual reduceh by %g", 
 			hscale );
 		if( vips_reduceh( in, &t[3], 1.0 / hscale, 
 			"kernel", resize->kernel, 
@@ -285,8 +283,7 @@ vips_resize_build( VipsObject *object )
 
 		if( hscale > 1.0 && 
 			vscale > 1.0 ) { 
-			vips_info( class->nickname, 
-				"residual scale %g x %g", hscale, vscale );
+			g_info( "residual scale %g x %g", hscale, vscale );
 			if( vips_affine( in, &t[4], 
 				hscale, 0.0, 0.0, vscale, 
 				"interpolate", interpolate, 
@@ -295,8 +292,7 @@ vips_resize_build( VipsObject *object )
 			in = t[4];
 		}
 		else if( hscale > 1.0 ) { 
-			vips_info( class->nickname, 
-				"residual scale %g", hscale );
+			g_info( "residual scale %g", hscale );
 			if( vips_affine( in, &t[4], hscale, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 
 				"interpolate", interpolate, 
 				NULL ) )  
@@ -304,8 +300,7 @@ vips_resize_build( VipsObject *object )
 			in = t[4];
 		}
 		else { 
-			vips_info( class->nickname, 
-				"residual scale %g", vscale );
+			g_info( "residual scale %g", vscale );
 			if( vips_affine( in, &t[4], 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, vscale, 
 				"interpolate", interpolate, 
 				NULL ) )  
diff --git a/libvips/resample/thumbnail.c b/libvips/resample/thumbnail.c
index dcf24259..c90c5610 100644
--- a/libvips/resample/thumbnail.c
+++ b/libvips/resample/thumbnail.c
@@ -195,9 +195,8 @@ vips_thumbnail_open( VipsThumbnail *thumbnail )
 
 	if( class->get_info( thumbnail ) )
 		return( NULL );
-	vips_info( "thumbnail", "selected loader is %s", 
-		thumbnail->loader ); 
-	vips_info( "thumbnail", "input size is %d x %d", 
+	g_info( "selected loader is %s", thumbnail->loader ); 
+	g_info( "input size is %d x %d", 
 		thumbnail->input_width, thumbnail->input_height ); 
 
 	shrink = 1;
@@ -206,21 +205,18 @@ vips_thumbnail_open( VipsThumbnail *thumbnail )
 	if( vips_isprefix( "VipsForeignLoadJpeg", thumbnail->loader ) ) {
 		shrink = vips_thumbnail_find_jpegshrink( thumbnail, 
 			thumbnail->input_width, thumbnail->input_height );
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-			"loading jpeg with factor %d pre-shrink", shrink ); 
+		g_info( "loading jpeg with factor %d pre-shrink", shrink ); 
 	}
 	else if( vips_isprefix( "VipsForeignLoadPdf", thumbnail->loader ) ||
 		vips_isprefix( "VipsForeignLoadSvg", thumbnail->loader ) ) {
 		scale = 1.0 / vips_thumbnail_calculate_shrink( thumbnail, 
 			thumbnail->input_width, thumbnail->input_height ); 
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-			"loading PDF/SVG with factor %g pre-scale", scale ); 
+		g_info( "loading PDF/SVG with factor %g pre-scale", scale ); 
 	}
 	else if( vips_isprefix( "VipsForeignLoadWebp", thumbnail->loader ) ) {
 		shrink = vips_thumbnail_calculate_shrink( thumbnail, 
 			thumbnail->input_width, thumbnail->input_height ); 
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-			"loading webp with factor %d pre-shrink", shrink ); 
+		g_info( "loading webp with factor %d pre-shrink", shrink ); 
 	}
 
 	if( !(im = class->open( thumbnail, shrink, scale )) )
@@ -269,7 +265,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 	/* RAD needs special unpacking.
 	 */
 	if( in->Coding == VIPS_CODING_RAD ) {
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", "unpacking Rad to float" );
+		g_info( "unpacking Rad to float" );
 
 		/* rad is scrgb.
 		 */
@@ -296,11 +292,9 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 		(vips_image_get_typeof( in, VIPS_META_ICC_NAME ) || 
 		 thumbnail->import_profile) ) {
 		if( vips_image_get_typeof( in, VIPS_META_ICC_NAME ) )
-			vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-				"importing with embedded profile" );
+			g_info( "importing with embedded profile" );
 		else
-			vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-				"importing with profile %s", 
+			g_info( "importing with profile %s", 
 				thumbnail->import_profile );
 
 		if( vips_icc_import( in, &t[1], 
@@ -317,7 +311,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 
 	/* To the processing colourspace. This will unpack LABQ as well.
 	 */
-	vips_info( "thumbnail", "converting to processing space %s",
+	g_info( "converting to processing space %s",
 		vips_enum_nick( VIPS_TYPE_INTERPRETATION, interpretation ) ); 
 	if( vips_colourspace( in, &t[2], interpretation, NULL ) ) 
 		return( -1 ); 
@@ -328,7 +322,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 	 */
 	have_premultiplied = FALSE;
 	if( vips_image_hasalpha( in ) ) { 
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", "premultiplying alpha" ); 
+		g_info( "premultiplying alpha" ); 
 		if( vips_premultiply( in, &t[3], NULL ) ) 
 			return( -1 );
 		have_premultiplied = TRUE;
@@ -353,7 +347,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 	in = t[4];
 
 	if( have_premultiplied ) {
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", "unpremultiplying alpha" ); 
+		g_info( "unpremultiplying alpha" ); 
 		if( vips_unpremultiply( in, &t[5], NULL ) || 
 			vips_cast( t[5], &t[6], unpremultiplied_format, NULL ) )
 			return( -1 );
@@ -369,8 +363,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 	if( have_imported ) { 
 		if( thumbnail->export_profile ||
 			vips_image_get_typeof( in, VIPS_META_ICC_NAME ) ) {
-			vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-				"exporting to device space with a profile" );
+			g_info( "exporting to device space with a profile" );
 			if( vips_icc_export( in, &t[7], 
 				"output_profile", thumbnail->export_profile,
 				NULL ) )  
@@ -378,7 +371,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 			in = t[7];
 		}
 		else {
-			vips_info( "thumbnail", "converting to sRGB" );
+			g_info( "converting to sRGB" );
 			if( vips_colourspace( in, &t[7], 
 				VIPS_INTERPRETATION_sRGB, NULL ) ) 
 				return( -1 ); 
@@ -390,23 +383,20 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 		 thumbnail->import_profile) ) {
 		VipsImage *out;
 
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-			"exporting with profile %s", thumbnail->export_profile );
+		g_info( "exporting with profile %s", thumbnail->export_profile );
 
 		/* We first try with the embedded profile, if any, then if
 		 * that fails try again with the supplied fallback profile.
 		 */
 		out = NULL; 
 		if( vips_image_get_typeof( in, VIPS_META_ICC_NAME ) ) {
-			vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-				"importing with embedded profile" );
+			g_info( "importing with embedded profile" );
 
 			if( vips_icc_transform( in, &t[7], 
 				thumbnail->export_profile,
 				"embedded", TRUE,
 				NULL ) ) {
-				vips_warn( "thumbnail", 
-					_( "unable to import with "
+				g_warning( _( "unable to import with "
 						"embedded profile: %s" ),
 					vips_error_buffer() );
 
@@ -418,8 +408,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 
 		if( !out &&
 			thumbnail->import_profile ) { 
-			vips_info( "thumbnail", 
-				"importing with fallback profile" );
+			g_info( "importing with fallback profile" );
 
 			if( vips_icc_transform( in, &t[7], 
 				thumbnail->export_profile,
@@ -442,7 +431,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 		int left = (in->Xsize - thumbnail->width) / 2;
 		int top = (in->Ysize - thumbnail->height) / 2;
 
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", "cropping to %dx%d",
+		g_info( "cropping to %dx%d",
 			thumbnail->width, thumbnail->height ); 
 		if( vips_extract_area( in, &t[8], left, top, 
 			thumbnail->width, thumbnail->height, NULL ) )
@@ -454,7 +443,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_build( VipsObject *object )
 		thumbnail->angle != VIPS_ANGLE_D0 ) {
 		VipsAngle angle = vips_autorot_get_angle( in );
 
-		vips_info( "thumbnail", "rotating by %s", 
+		g_info( "rotating by %s", 
 			vips_enum_nick( VIPS_TYPE_ANGLE, angle ) ); 
 
 		/* Need to copy to memory, we have to stay seq.
@@ -573,7 +562,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_file_get_info( VipsThumbnail *thumbnail )
 
 	VipsImage *image;
 
-	vips_info( "thumbnail", "thumbnailing %s", file->filename ); 
+	g_info( "thumbnailing %s", file->filename ); 
 
 	if( !(thumbnail->loader = vips_foreign_find_load( file->filename )) ||
 		!(image = vips_image_new_from_file( file->filename, NULL )) )
@@ -726,8 +715,7 @@ vips_thumbnail_buffer_get_info( VipsThumbnail *thumbnail )
 
 	VipsImage *image;
 
-	vips_info( "thumbnail", "thumbnailing %zd bytes of data", 
-		buffer->buf->length ); 
+	g_info( "thumbnailing %zd bytes of data", buffer->buf->length ); 
 
 	if( !(thumbnail->loader = vips_foreign_find_load_buffer( 
 			buffer->buf->data, buffer->buf->length )) ||
diff --git a/tools/vipsthumbnail.c b/tools/vipsthumbnail.c
index e09c8421..e6a184e4 100644
--- a/tools/vipsthumbnail.c
+++ b/tools/vipsthumbnail.c
@@ -213,8 +213,7 @@ thumbnail_write( VipsObject *process, VipsImage *im, const char *filename )
 		g_free( dir );
 	}
 
-	vips_info( "vipsthumbnail", 
-		"thumbnailing %s as %s", filename, output_name );
+	g_info( "thumbnailing %s as %s", filename, output_name );
 
 	g_free( file );
 
@@ -308,7 +307,7 @@ main( int argc, char **argv )
 
 	if( rotate_image ) {
 #ifndef HAVE_EXIF
-		vips_warn( "vipsthumbnail", "%s",
+		g_warning( "%s",
 			_( "auto-rotate disabled: "
 			      "libvips built without exif support" ) );
 #endif /*!HAVE_EXIF*/