diff --git a/src/download-via-ssh/download-via-ssh.cc b/src/download-via-ssh/download-via-ssh.cc
index ed551ac46..ff28a60ff 100644
--- a/src/download-via-ssh/download-via-ssh.cc
+++ b/src/download-via-ssh/download-via-ssh.cc
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
                 throw UsageError("download-via-ssh: --substitute takes exactly two arguments");
             Path storePath = argv[2];
             Path destPath = argv[3];
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("downloading ‘%1%’ via SSH from ‘%2%’...") % storePath % host);
+            printError(format("downloading ‘%1%’ via SSH from ‘%2%’...") % storePath % host);
             substitute(pipes, storePath, destPath);
         }
         else
diff --git a/src/libexpr/parser.y b/src/libexpr/parser.y
index 3f7eed16f..d07eeddda 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/parser.y
+++ b/src/libexpr/parser.y
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ std::pair<bool, std::string> EvalState::resolveSearchPathElem(const SearchPathEl
             else
                 res = { true, getDownloader()->downloadCached(store, elem.second, true) };
         } catch (DownloadError & e) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: Nix search path entry ‘%1%’ cannot be downloaded, ignoring") % elem.second);
+            printError(format("warning: Nix search path entry ‘%1%’ cannot be downloaded, ignoring") % elem.second);
             res = { false, "" };
         }
     } else {
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ std::pair<bool, std::string> EvalState::resolveSearchPathElem(const SearchPathEl
         if (pathExists(path))
             res = { true, path };
         else {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: Nix search path entry ‘%1%’ does not exist, ignoring") % elem.second);
+            printError(format("warning: Nix search path entry ‘%1%’ does not exist, ignoring") % elem.second);
             res = { false, "" };
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops.cc b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
index e46000084..377fb8c75 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
@@ -427,9 +427,9 @@ static void prim_trace(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * args, Value
 {
     state.forceValue(*args[0]);
     if (args[0]->type == tString)
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("trace: %1%") % args[0]->string.s);
+        printError(format("trace: %1%") % args[0]->string.s);
     else
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("trace: %1%") % *args[0]);
+        printError(format("trace: %1%") % *args[0]);
     state.forceValue(*args[1]);
     v = *args[1];
 }
diff --git a/src/libmain/shared.cc b/src/libmain/shared.cc
index 5af7c46e8..0c6e3fb76 100644
--- a/src/libmain/shared.cc
+++ b/src/libmain/shared.cc
@@ -56,26 +56,26 @@ void printMissing(ref<Store> store, const PathSet & willBuild,
     unsigned long long downloadSize, unsigned long long narSize)
 {
     if (!willBuild.empty()) {
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("these derivations will be built:"));
+        printInfo(format("these derivations will be built:"));
         Paths sorted = store->topoSortPaths(willBuild);
         reverse(sorted.begin(), sorted.end());
         for (auto & i : sorted)
-            printMsg(lvlInfo, format("  %1%") % i);
+            printInfo(format("  %1%") % i);
     }
 
     if (!willSubstitute.empty()) {
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("these paths will be fetched (%.2f MiB download, %.2f MiB unpacked):")
+        printInfo(format("these paths will be fetched (%.2f MiB download, %.2f MiB unpacked):")
             % (downloadSize / (1024.0 * 1024.0))
             % (narSize / (1024.0 * 1024.0)));
         for (auto & i : willSubstitute)
-            printMsg(lvlInfo, format("  %1%") % i);
+            printInfo(format("  %1%") % i);
     }
 
     if (!unknown.empty()) {
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("don't know how to build these paths%1%:")
+        printInfo(format("don't know how to build these paths%1%:")
             % (settings.readOnlyMode ? " (may be caused by read-only store access)" : ""));
         for (auto & i : unknown)
-            printMsg(lvlInfo, format("  %1%") % i);
+            printInfo(format("  %1%") % i);
     }
 }
 
@@ -282,20 +282,20 @@ int handleExceptions(const string & programName, std::function<void()> fun)
     } catch (Exit & e) {
         return e.status;
     } catch (UsageError & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlError,
+        printError(
             format(error + "%1%\nTry ‘%2% --help’ for more information.")
             % e.what() % programName);
         return 1;
     } catch (BaseError & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format(error + "%1%%2%") % (settings.showTrace ? e.prefix() : "") % e.msg());
+        printError(format(error + "%1%%2%") % (settings.showTrace ? e.prefix() : "") % e.msg());
         if (e.prefix() != "" && !settings.showTrace)
-            printMsg(lvlError, "(use ‘--show-trace’ to show detailed location information)");
+            printError("(use ‘--show-trace’ to show detailed location information)");
         return e.status;
     } catch (std::bad_alloc & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, error + "out of memory");
+        printError(error + "out of memory");
         return 1;
     } catch (std::exception & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, error + e.what());
+        printError(error + e.what());
         return 1;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/build.cc b/src/libstore/build.cc
index ac8572246..476453412 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build.cc
@@ -1014,7 +1014,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::loadDerivation()
     trace("loading derivation");
 
     if (nrFailed != 0) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("cannot build missing derivation ‘%1%’") % drvPath);
+        printError(format("cannot build missing derivation ‘%1%’") % drvPath);
         done(BuildResult::MiscFailure);
         return;
     }
@@ -1168,7 +1168,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::repairClosure()
     PathSet broken;
     for (auto & i : outputClosure) {
         if (worker.pathContentsGood(i)) continue;
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("found corrupted or missing path ‘%1%’ in the output closure of ‘%2%’") % i % drvPath);
+        printError(format("found corrupted or missing path ‘%1%’ in the output closure of ‘%2%’") % i % drvPath);
         Path drvPath2 = outputsToDrv[i];
         if (drvPath2 == "")
             addWaitee(worker.makeSubstitutionGoal(i, true));
@@ -1201,7 +1201,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::inputsRealised()
     if (nrFailed != 0) {
         if (!useDerivation)
             throw Error(format("some dependencies of ‘%1%’ are missing") % drvPath);
-        printMsg(lvlError,
+        printError(
             format("cannot build derivation ‘%1%’: %2% dependencies couldn't be built")
             % drvPath % nrFailed);
         done(BuildResult::DependencyFailed);
@@ -1366,7 +1366,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::tryToBuild()
         startBuilder();
 
     } catch (BuildError & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, e.msg());
+        printError(e.msg());
         outputLocks.unlock();
         buildUser.release();
         worker.permanentFailure = true;
@@ -1515,7 +1515,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::buildDone()
 
     } catch (BuildError & e) {
         if (!hook)
-            printMsg(lvlError, e.msg());
+            printError(e.msg());
         outputLocks.unlock();
         buildUser.release();
 
@@ -1644,7 +1644,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::startBuilder()
         nrRounds > 1 ? "building path(s) %1% (round %2%/%3%)" :
         "building path(s) %1%");
     f.exceptions(boost::io::all_error_bits ^ boost::io::too_many_args_bit);
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, f % showPaths(missingPaths) % curRound % nrRounds);
+    printInfo(f % showPaths(missingPaths) % curRound % nrRounds);
 
     /* Right platform? */
     if (!drv->canBuildLocally()) {
@@ -2216,7 +2216,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::startBuilder()
             if (msg.size() == 1) break;
             throw Error(string(msg, 1));
         }
-        printMsg(lvlDebug, msg);
+        debug(msg);
     }
 }
 
@@ -2704,7 +2704,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
         /* Apply hash rewriting if necessary. */
         bool rewritten = false;
         if (!outputRewrites.empty()) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: rewriting hashes in ‘%1%’; cross fingers") % path);
+            printError(format("warning: rewriting hashes in ‘%1%’; cross fingers") % path);
 
             /* Canonicalise first.  This ensures that the path we're
                rewriting doesn't contain a hard link to /etc/shadow or
@@ -2743,7 +2743,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
             Hash h2 = recursive ? hashPath(h.type, actualPath).first : hashFile(h.type, actualPath);
             if (buildMode == bmHash) {
                 Path dest = worker.store.makeFixedOutputPath(recursive, h2, drv->env["name"]);
-                printMsg(lvlError, format("build produced path ‘%1%’ with %2% hash ‘%3%’")
+                printError(format("build produced path ‘%1%’ with %2% hash ‘%3%’")
                     % dest % printHashType(h.type) % printHash16or32(h2));
                 if (worker.store.isValidPath(dest))
                     return;
@@ -2967,7 +2967,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::deleteTmpDir(bool force)
 {
     if (tmpDir != "") {
         if (settings.keepFailed && !force) {
-            printMsg(lvlError,
+            printError(
                 format("note: keeping build directory ‘%2%’")
                 % drvPath % tmpDir);
             chmod(tmpDir.c_str(), 0755);
@@ -2986,7 +2986,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::handleChildOutput(int fd, const string & data)
     {
         logSize += data.size();
         if (settings.maxLogSize && logSize > settings.maxLogSize) {
-            printMsg(lvlError,
+            printError(
                 format("%1% killed after writing more than %2% bytes of log output")
                 % getName() % settings.maxLogSize);
             killChild();
@@ -3009,7 +3009,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::handleChildOutput(int fd, const string & data)
     }
 
     if (hook && fd == hook->fromHook.readSide.get())
-        printMsg(lvlError, data); // FIXME?
+        printError(data); // FIXME?
 }
 
 
@@ -3023,7 +3023,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::handleEOF(int fd)
 void DerivationGoal::flushLine()
 {
     if (settings.verboseBuild)
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, filterANSIEscapes(currentLogLine, true));
+        printInfo(filterANSIEscapes(currentLogLine, true));
     else {
         logTail.push_back(currentLogLine);
         if (logTail.size() > settings.logLines) logTail.pop_front();
@@ -3236,7 +3236,7 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::tryNext()
        signature. LocalStore::addToStore() also checks for this, but
        only after we've downloaded the path. */
     if (worker.store.requireSigs && !info->checkSignatures(worker.store, worker.store.publicKeys)) {
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("warning: substituter ‘%s’ does not have a valid signature for path ‘%s’")
+        printInfo(format("warning: substituter ‘%s’ does not have a valid signature for path ‘%s’")
             % sub->getUri() % storePath);
         tryNext();
         return;
@@ -3287,7 +3287,7 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::tryToRun()
         return;
     }
 
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("fetching path ‘%1%’...") % storePath);
+    printInfo(format("fetching path ‘%1%’...") % storePath);
 
     outPipe.create();
 
@@ -3323,7 +3323,7 @@ void SubstitutionGoal::finished()
     try {
         promise.get_future().get();
     } catch (Error & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, e.msg());
+        printInfo(e.msg());
 
         /* Try the next substitute. */
         state = &SubstitutionGoal::tryNext;
@@ -3617,7 +3617,7 @@ void Worker::waitForInput()
     if (!waitingForAWhile.empty()) {
         useTimeout = true;
         if (lastWokenUp == 0)
-            printMsg(lvlError, "waiting for locks or build slots...");
+            printError("waiting for locks or build slots...");
         if (lastWokenUp == 0 || lastWokenUp > before) lastWokenUp = before;
         timeout.tv_sec = std::max((time_t) 1, (time_t) (lastWokenUp + settings.pollInterval - before));
     } else lastWokenUp = 0;
@@ -3680,7 +3680,7 @@ void Worker::waitForInput()
             j->respectTimeouts &&
             after - j->lastOutput >= (time_t) settings.maxSilentTime)
         {
-            printMsg(lvlError,
+            printError(
                 format("%1% timed out after %2% seconds of silence")
                 % goal->getName() % settings.maxSilentTime);
             goal->timedOut();
@@ -3691,7 +3691,7 @@ void Worker::waitForInput()
             j->respectTimeouts &&
             after - j->timeStarted >= (time_t) settings.buildTimeout)
         {
-            printMsg(lvlError,
+            printError(
                 format("%1% timed out after %2% seconds")
                 % goal->getName() % settings.buildTimeout);
             goal->timedOut();
@@ -3719,7 +3719,7 @@ bool Worker::pathContentsGood(const Path & path)
 {
     std::map<Path, bool>::iterator i = pathContentsGoodCache.find(path);
     if (i != pathContentsGoodCache.end()) return i->second;
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("checking path ‘%1%’...") % path);
+    printInfo(format("checking path ‘%1%’...") % path);
     auto info = store.queryPathInfo(path);
     bool res;
     if (!pathExists(path))
@@ -3730,7 +3730,7 @@ bool Worker::pathContentsGood(const Path & path)
         res = info->narHash == nullHash || info->narHash == current.first;
     }
     pathContentsGoodCache[path] = res;
-    if (!res) printMsg(lvlError, format("path ‘%1%’ is corrupted or missing!") % path);
+    if (!res) printError(format("path ‘%1%’ is corrupted or missing!") % path);
     return res;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/download.cc b/src/libstore/download.cc
index d7d0e29c0..22a3f969c 100644
--- a/src/libstore/download.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/download.cc
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ struct CurlDownloader : public Downloader
                    download after a while. */
                 if (err == Transient && attempt < request.tries) {
                     int ms = request.baseRetryTimeMs * std::pow(2.0f, attempt - 1 + std::uniform_real_distribution<>(0.0, 0.5)(downloader.mt19937));
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: %s; retrying in %d ms") % exc.what() % ms);
+                    printError(format("warning: %s; retrying in %d ms") % exc.what() % ms);
                     embargo = std::chrono::steady_clock::now() + std::chrono::milliseconds(ms);
                     downloader.enqueueItem(shared_from_this());
                 }
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ struct CurlDownloader : public Downloader
             workerThreadMain();
         } catch (nix::Interrupted & e) {
         } catch (std::exception & e) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("unexpected error in download thread: %s") % e.what());
+            printError(format("unexpected error in download thread: %s") % e.what());
         }
 
         {
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ Path Downloader::downloadCached(ref<Store> store, const string & url_, bool unpa
                     if (effectiveUrl)
                         *effectiveUrl = url_;
                 } else if (!ss[1].empty()) {
-                    printMsg(lvlDebug, format("verifying previous ETag ‘%1%’") % ss[1]);
+                    debug(format("verifying previous ETag ‘%1%’") % ss[1]);
                     expectedETag = ss[1];
                 }
             }
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ Path Downloader::downloadCached(ref<Store> store, const string & url_, bool unpa
             writeFile(dataFile, url + "\n" + res.etag + "\n" + std::to_string(time(0)) + "\n");
         } catch (DownloadError & e) {
             if (storePath.empty()) throw;
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: %1%; using cached result") % e.msg());
+            printError(format("warning: %1%; using cached result") % e.msg());
         }
     }
 
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ Path Downloader::downloadCached(ref<Store> store, const string & url_, bool unpa
                 unpackedStorePath = "";
         }
         if (unpackedStorePath.empty()) {
-            printMsg(lvlInfo, format("unpacking ‘%1%’...") % url);
+            printInfo(format("unpacking ‘%1%’...") % url);
             Path tmpDir = createTempDir();
             AutoDelete autoDelete(tmpDir, true);
             // FIXME: this requires GNU tar for decompression.
diff --git a/src/libstore/gc.cc b/src/libstore/gc.cc
index 2eab7de0d..ae03604fa 100644
--- a/src/libstore/gc.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/gc.cc
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ int LocalStore::openGCLock(LockType lockType)
         throw SysError(format("opening global GC lock ‘%1%’") % fnGCLock);
 
     if (!lockFile(fdGCLock.get(), lockType, false)) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("waiting for the big garbage collector lock..."));
+        printError(format("waiting for the big garbage collector lock..."));
         lockFile(fdGCLock.get(), lockType, true);
     }
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ Path LocalFSStore::addPermRoot(const Path & _storePath,
     if (settings.checkRootReachability) {
         Roots roots = findRoots();
         if (roots.find(gcRoot) == roots.end())
-            printMsg(lvlError,
+            printError(
                 format(
                     "warning: ‘%1%’ is not in a directory where the garbage collector looks for roots; "
                     "therefore, ‘%2%’ might be removed by the garbage collector")
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ void LocalStore::readTempRoots(PathSet & tempRoots, FDs & fds)
            only succeed if the owning process has died.  In that case
            we don't care about its temporary roots. */
         if (lockFile(fd->get(), ltWrite, false)) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("removing stale temporary roots file ‘%1%’") % path);
+            printError(format("removing stale temporary roots file ‘%1%’") % path);
             unlink(path.c_str());
             writeFull(fd->get(), "d");
             continue;
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ void LocalStore::findRoots(const Path & path, unsigned char type, Roots & roots)
         if (isStorePath(storePath) && isValidPath(storePath))
             roots[path] = storePath;
         else
-            printMsg(lvlInfo, format("skipping invalid root from ‘%1%’ to ‘%2%’") % path % storePath);
+            printInfo(format("skipping invalid root from ‘%1%’ to ‘%2%’") % path % storePath);
     };
 
     try {
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ void LocalStore::findRoots(const Path & path, unsigned char type, Roots & roots)
                 target = absPath(target, dirOf(path));
                 if (!pathExists(target)) {
                     if (isInDir(path, stateDir + "/" + gcRootsDir + "/auto")) {
-                        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("removing stale link from ‘%1%’ to ‘%2%’") % path % target);
+                        printInfo(format("removing stale link from ‘%1%’ to ‘%2%’") % path % target);
                         unlink(path.c_str());
                     }
                 } else {
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ void LocalStore::findRoots(const Path & path, unsigned char type, Roots & roots)
     catch (SysError & e) {
         /* We only ignore permanent failures. */
         if (e.errNo == EACCES || e.errNo == ENOENT || e.errNo == ENOTDIR)
-            printMsg(lvlInfo, format("cannot read potential root ‘%1%’") % path);
+            printInfo(format("cannot read potential root ‘%1%’") % path);
         else
             throw;
     }
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ void LocalStore::deletePathRecursive(GCState & state, const Path & path)
         throw SysError(format("getting status of %1%") % realPath);
     }
 
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("deleting ‘%1%’") % path);
+    printInfo(format("deleting ‘%1%’") % path);
 
     state.results.paths.insert(path);
 
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ void LocalStore::deletePathRecursive(GCState & state, const Path & path)
             state.bytesInvalidated += size;
         } catch (SysError & e) {
             if (e.errNo == ENOSPC) {
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, format("note: can't create move ‘%1%’: %2%") % realPath % e.msg());
+                printInfo(format("note: can't create move ‘%1%’: %2%") % realPath % e.msg());
                 deleteGarbage(state, realPath);
             }
         }
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ void LocalStore::deletePathRecursive(GCState & state, const Path & path)
         deleteGarbage(state, realPath);
 
     if (state.results.bytesFreed + state.bytesInvalidated > state.options.maxFreed) {
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("deleted or invalidated more than %1% bytes; stopping") % state.options.maxFreed);
+        printInfo(format("deleted or invalidated more than %1% bytes; stopping") % state.options.maxFreed);
         throw GCLimitReached();
     }
 }
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ bool LocalStore::canReachRoot(GCState & state, PathSet & visited, const Path & p
     }
 
     if (state.roots.find(path) != state.roots.end()) {
-        printMsg(lvlDebug, format("cannot delete ‘%1%’ because it's a root") % path);
+        debug(format("cannot delete ‘%1%’ because it's a root") % path);
         state.alive.insert(path);
         return true;
     }
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ void LocalStore::tryToDelete(GCState & state, const Path & path)
     PathSet visited;
 
     if (canReachRoot(state, visited, path)) {
-        printMsg(lvlDebug, format("cannot delete ‘%1%’ because it's still reachable") % path);
+        debug(format("cannot delete ‘%1%’ because it's still reachable") % path);
     } else {
         /* No path we visited was a root, so everything is garbage.
            But we only delete ‘path’ and its referrers here so that
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ void LocalStore::removeUnusedLinks(const GCState & state)
         throw SysError(format("statting ‘%1%’") % linksDir);
     long long overhead = st.st_blocks * 512ULL;
 
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("note: currently hard linking saves %.2f MiB")
+    printInfo(format("note: currently hard linking saves %.2f MiB")
         % ((unsharedSize - actualSize - overhead) / (1024.0 * 1024.0)));
 }
 
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ void LocalStore::collectGarbage(const GCOptions & options, GCResults & results)
 
     /* Find the roots.  Since we've grabbed the GC lock, the set of
        permanent roots cannot increase now. */
-    printMsg(lvlError, format("finding garbage collector roots..."));
+    printError(format("finding garbage collector roots..."));
     Roots rootMap = options.ignoreLiveness ? Roots() : findRoots();
 
     for (auto & i : rootMap) state.roots.insert(i.second);
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ void LocalStore::collectGarbage(const GCOptions & options, GCResults & results)
             createDirs(trashDir);
         } catch (SysError & e) {
             if (e.errNo == ENOSPC) {
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, format("note: can't create trash directory: %1%") % e.msg());
+                printInfo(format("note: can't create trash directory: %1%") % e.msg());
                 state.moveToTrash = false;
             }
         }
@@ -765,9 +765,9 @@ void LocalStore::collectGarbage(const GCOptions & options, GCResults & results)
     } else if (options.maxFreed > 0) {
 
         if (state.shouldDelete)
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("deleting garbage..."));
+            printError(format("deleting garbage..."));
         else
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("determining live/dead paths..."));
+            printError(format("determining live/dead paths..."));
 
         try {
 
@@ -825,12 +825,12 @@ void LocalStore::collectGarbage(const GCOptions & options, GCResults & results)
     fds.clear();
 
     /* Delete the trash directory. */
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("deleting ‘%1%’") % trashDir);
+    printInfo(format("deleting ‘%1%’") % trashDir);
     deleteGarbage(state, trashDir);
 
     /* Clean up the links directory. */
     if (options.action == GCOptions::gcDeleteDead || options.action == GCOptions::gcDeleteSpecific) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("deleting unused links..."));
+        printError(format("deleting unused links..."));
         removeUnusedLinks(state);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index 466cea727..d2360a9c5 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ LocalStore::LocalStore(const Params & params)
 
         struct group * gr = getgrnam(settings.buildUsersGroup.c_str());
         if (!gr)
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: the group ‘%1%’ specified in ‘build-users-group’ does not exist")
+            printError(format("warning: the group ‘%1%’ specified in ‘build-users-group’ does not exist")
                 % settings.buildUsersGroup);
         else {
             struct stat st;
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ LocalStore::LocalStore(const Params & params)
     globalLock = openLockFile(globalLockPath.c_str(), true);
 
     if (!lockFile(globalLock.get(), ltRead, false)) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, "waiting for the big Nix store lock...");
+        printError("waiting for the big Nix store lock...");
         lockFile(globalLock.get(), ltRead, true);
     }
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ LocalStore::LocalStore(const Params & params)
                 "please upgrade Nix to version 1.11 first.");
 
         if (!lockFile(globalLock.get(), ltWrite, false)) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, "waiting for exclusive access to the Nix store...");
+            printError("waiting for exclusive access to the Nix store...");
             lockFile(globalLock.get(), ltWrite, true);
         }
 
@@ -1108,7 +1108,7 @@ void LocalStore::invalidatePathChecked(const Path & path)
 
 bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, bool repair)
 {
-    printMsg(lvlError, format("reading the Nix store..."));
+    printError(format("reading the Nix store..."));
 
     bool errors = false;
 
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, bool repair)
     for (auto & i : readDirectory(realStoreDir)) store.insert(i.name);
 
     /* Check whether all valid paths actually exist. */
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, "checking path existence...");
+    printInfo("checking path existence...");
 
     PathSet validPaths2 = queryAllValidPaths(), validPaths, done;
 
@@ -1132,7 +1132,7 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, bool repair)
 
     /* Optionally, check the content hashes (slow). */
     if (checkContents) {
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, "checking hashes...");
+        printInfo("checking hashes...");
 
         Hash nullHash(htSHA256);
 
@@ -1145,7 +1145,7 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, bool repair)
                 HashResult current = hashPath(info->narHash.type, i);
 
                 if (info->narHash != nullHash && info->narHash != current.first) {
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("path ‘%1%’ was modified! "
+                    printError(format("path ‘%1%’ was modified! "
                             "expected hash ‘%2%’, got ‘%3%’")
                         % i % printHash(info->narHash) % printHash(current.first));
                     if (repair) repairPath(i); else errors = true;
@@ -1155,14 +1155,14 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, bool repair)
 
                     /* Fill in missing hashes. */
                     if (info->narHash == nullHash) {
-                        printMsg(lvlError, format("fixing missing hash on ‘%1%’") % i);
+                        printError(format("fixing missing hash on ‘%1%’") % i);
                         info->narHash = current.first;
                         update = true;
                     }
 
                     /* Fill in missing narSize fields (from old stores). */
                     if (info->narSize == 0) {
-                        printMsg(lvlError, format("updating size field on ‘%1%’ to %2%") % i % current.second);
+                        printError(format("updating size field on ‘%1%’ to %2%") % i % current.second);
                         info->narSize = current.second;
                         update = true;
                     }
@@ -1178,9 +1178,9 @@ bool LocalStore::verifyStore(bool checkContents, bool repair)
                 /* It's possible that the path got GC'ed, so ignore
                    errors on invalid paths. */
                 if (isValidPath(i))
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("error: %1%") % e.msg());
+                    printError(format("error: %1%") % e.msg());
                 else
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: %1%") % e.msg());
+                    printError(format("warning: %1%") % e.msg());
                 errors = true;
             }
         }
@@ -1199,7 +1199,7 @@ void LocalStore::verifyPath(const Path & path, const PathSet & store,
     done.insert(path);
 
     if (!isStorePath(path)) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("path ‘%1%’ is not in the Nix store") % path);
+        printError(format("path ‘%1%’ is not in the Nix store") % path);
         auto state(_state.lock());
         invalidatePath(*state, path);
         return;
@@ -1218,16 +1218,16 @@ void LocalStore::verifyPath(const Path & path, const PathSet & store,
             }
 
         if (canInvalidate) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("path ‘%1%’ disappeared, removing from database...") % path);
+            printError(format("path ‘%1%’ disappeared, removing from database...") % path);
             auto state(_state.lock());
             invalidatePath(*state, path);
         } else {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("path ‘%1%’ disappeared, but it still has valid referrers!") % path);
+            printError(format("path ‘%1%’ disappeared, but it still has valid referrers!") % path);
             if (repair)
                 try {
                     repairPath(path);
                 } catch (Error & e) {
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: %1%") % e.msg());
+                    printError(format("warning: %1%") % e.msg());
                     errors = true;
                 }
             else errors = true;
@@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ static void makeMutable(const Path & path)
 void LocalStore::upgradeStore7()
 {
     if (getuid() != 0) return;
-    printMsg(lvlError, "removing immutable bits from the Nix store (this may take a while)...");
+    printError("removing immutable bits from the Nix store (this may take a while)...");
     makeMutable(realStoreDir);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc b/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
index 927478121..1bf8b7d83 100644
--- a/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/optimise-store.cc
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ struct MakeReadOnly
 
 LocalStore::InodeHash LocalStore::loadInodeHash()
 {
-    printMsg(lvlDebug, "loading hash inodes in memory");
+    debug("loading hash inodes in memory");
     InodeHash inodeHash;
 
     AutoCloseDir dir = opendir(linksDir.c_str());
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Strings LocalStore::readDirectoryIgnoringInodes(const Path & path, const InodeHa
         checkInterrupt();
 
         if (inodeHash.count(dirent->d_ino)) {
-            printMsg(lvlDebug, format("‘%1%’ is already linked") % dirent->d_name);
+            debug(format("‘%1%’ is already linked") % dirent->d_name);
             continue;
         }
 
@@ -116,13 +116,13 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(OptimiseStats & stats, const Path & path, InodeHa
        NixOS (example: $fontconfig/var/cache being modified).  Skip
        those files.  FIXME: check the modification time. */
     if (S_ISREG(st.st_mode) && (st.st_mode & S_IWUSR)) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("skipping suspicious writable file ‘%1%’") % path);
+        printError(format("skipping suspicious writable file ‘%1%’") % path);
         return;
     }
 
     /* This can still happen on top-level files. */
     if (st.st_nlink > 1 && inodeHash.count(st.st_ino)) {
-        printMsg(lvlDebug, format("‘%1%’ is already linked, with %2% other file(s)") % path % (st.st_nlink - 2));
+        debug(format("‘%1%’ is already linked, with %2% other file(s)") % path % (st.st_nlink - 2));
         return;
     }
 
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(OptimiseStats & stats, const Path & path, InodeHa
        contents of the symlink (i.e. the result of readlink()), not
        the contents of the target (which may not even exist). */
     Hash hash = hashPath(htSHA256, path).first;
-    printMsg(lvlDebug, format("‘%1%’ has hash ‘%2%’") % path % printHash(hash));
+    debug(format("‘%1%’ has hash ‘%2%’") % path % printHash(hash));
 
     /* Check if this is a known hash. */
     Path linkPath = linksDir + "/" + printHash32(hash);
@@ -161,12 +161,12 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(OptimiseStats & stats, const Path & path, InodeHa
         throw SysError(format("getting attributes of path ‘%1%’") % linkPath);
 
     if (st.st_ino == stLink.st_ino) {
-        printMsg(lvlDebug, format("‘%1%’ is already linked to ‘%2%’") % path % linkPath);
+        debug(format("‘%1%’ is already linked to ‘%2%’") % path % linkPath);
         return;
     }
 
     if (st.st_size != stLink.st_size) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("removing corrupted link ‘%1%’") % linkPath);
+        printError(format("removing corrupted link ‘%1%’") % linkPath);
         unlink(linkPath.c_str());
         goto retry;
     }
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(OptimiseStats & stats, const Path & path, InodeHa
                systems).  This is likely to happen with empty files.
                Just shrug and ignore. */
             if (st.st_size)
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, format("‘%1%’ has maximum number of links") % linkPath);
+                printInfo(format("‘%1%’ has maximum number of links") % linkPath);
             return;
         }
         throw SysError(format("cannot link ‘%1%’ to ‘%2%’") % tempLink % linkPath);
@@ -201,14 +201,14 @@ void LocalStore::optimisePath_(OptimiseStats & stats, const Path & path, InodeHa
     /* Atomically replace the old file with the new hard link. */
     if (rename(tempLink.c_str(), path.c_str()) == -1) {
         if (unlink(tempLink.c_str()) == -1)
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("unable to unlink ‘%1%’") % tempLink);
+            printError(format("unable to unlink ‘%1%’") % tempLink);
         if (errno == EMLINK) {
             /* Some filesystems generate too many links on the rename,
                rather than on the original link.  (Probably it
                temporarily increases the st_nlink field before
                decreasing it again.) */
             if (st.st_size)
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, format("‘%1%’ has maximum number of links") % linkPath);
+                printInfo(format("‘%1%’ has maximum number of links") % linkPath);
             return;
         }
         throw SysError(format("cannot rename ‘%1%’ to ‘%2%’") % tempLink % path);
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ void LocalStore::optimiseStore()
 
     optimiseStore(stats);
 
-    printMsg(lvlError,
+    printError(
         format("%1% freed by hard-linking %2% files")
         % showBytes(stats.bytesFreed)
         % stats.filesLinked);
diff --git a/src/libstore/pathlocks.cc b/src/libstore/pathlocks.cc
index b9e178d61..8788ee164 100644
--- a/src/libstore/pathlocks.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/pathlocks.cc
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ bool PathLocks::lockPaths(const PathSet & _paths,
             /* Acquire an exclusive lock. */
             if (!lockFile(fd.get(), ltWrite, false)) {
                 if (wait) {
-                    if (waitMsg != "") printMsg(lvlError, waitMsg);
+                    if (waitMsg != "") printError(waitMsg);
                     lockFile(fd.get(), ltWrite, true);
                 } else {
                     /* Failed to lock this path; release all other
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ void PathLocks::unlock()
 
         lockedPaths.erase(i.second);
         if (close(i.first) == -1)
-            printMsg(lvlError,
+            printError(
                 format("error (ignored): cannot close lock file on ‘%1%’") % i.second);
 
         debug(format("lock released on ‘%1%’") % i.second);
diff --git a/src/libstore/profiles.cc b/src/libstore/profiles.cc
index 449c88b57..f24daa886 100644
--- a/src/libstore/profiles.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/profiles.cc
@@ -132,9 +132,9 @@ void deleteGeneration(const Path & profile, unsigned int gen)
 static void deleteGeneration2(const Path & profile, unsigned int gen, bool dryRun)
 {
     if (dryRun)
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("would remove generation %1%") % gen);
+        printInfo(format("would remove generation %1%") % gen);
     else {
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("removing generation %1%") % gen);
+        printInfo(format("removing generation %1%") % gen);
         deleteGeneration(profile, gen);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
index 5c9262dec..38af145f9 100644
--- a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ void RemoteStore::Connection::processStderr(Sink * sink, Source * source)
             to.flush();
         }
         else
-            printMsg(lvlError, chomp(readString(from)));
+            printError(chomp(readString(from)));
     }
     if (msg == STDERR_ERROR) {
         string error = readString(from);
diff --git a/src/libstore/s3-binary-cache-store.cc b/src/libstore/s3-binary-cache-store.cc
index 0722e43d5..91ec3643b 100644
--- a/src/libstore/s3-binary-cache-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/s3-binary-cache-store.cc
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ struct S3BinaryCacheStoreImpl : public S3BinaryCacheStore
 
         auto duration = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(now2 - now1).count();
 
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("uploaded ‘s3://%1%/%2%’ (%3% bytes) in %4% ms")
+        printInfo(format("uploaded ‘s3://%1%/%2%’ (%3% bytes) in %4% ms")
             % bucketName % path % data.size() % duration);
 
         stats.putTimeMs += duration;
diff --git a/src/libstore/sqlite.cc b/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
index ea0b843f5..0197b091c 100644
--- a/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ namespace nix {
     int err = sqlite3_errcode(db);
     if (err == SQLITE_BUSY || err == SQLITE_PROTOCOL) {
         if (err == SQLITE_PROTOCOL)
-            printMsg(lvlError, "warning: SQLite database is busy (SQLITE_PROTOCOL)");
+            printError("warning: SQLite database is busy (SQLITE_PROTOCOL)");
         else {
             static bool warned = false;
             if (!warned) {
-                printMsg(lvlError, "warning: SQLite database is busy");
+                printError("warning: SQLite database is busy");
                 warned = true;
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.cc b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
index 427170843..90e174715 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ void ValidPathInfo::sign(const SecretKey & secretKey)
 bool ValidPathInfo::isContentAddressed(const Store & store) const
 {
     auto warn = [&]() {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: path ‘%s’ claims to be content-addressed but isn't") % path);
+        printError(format("warning: path ‘%s’ claims to be content-addressed but isn't") % path);
     };
 
     if (hasPrefix(ca, "text:")) {
diff --git a/src/libutil/affinity.cc b/src/libutil/affinity.cc
index 3cbdf8786..98f8287ad 100644
--- a/src/libutil/affinity.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/affinity.cc
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ void setAffinityTo(int cpu)
 #if __linux__
     if (sched_getaffinity(0, sizeof(cpu_set_t), &savedAffinity) == -1) return;
     didSaveAffinity = true;
-    printMsg(lvlDebug, format("locking this thread to CPU %1%") % cpu);
+    debug(format("locking this thread to CPU %1%") % cpu);
     cpu_set_t newAffinity;
     CPU_ZERO(&newAffinity);
     CPU_SET(cpu, &newAffinity);
     if (sched_setaffinity(0, sizeof(cpu_set_t), &newAffinity) == -1)
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("failed to lock thread to CPU %1%") % cpu);
+        printError(format("failed to lock thread to CPU %1%") % cpu);
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ void restoreAffinity()
 #if __linux__
     if (!didSaveAffinity) return;
     if (sched_setaffinity(0, sizeof(cpu_set_t), &savedAffinity) == -1)
-        printMsg(lvlError, "failed to restore affinity %1%");
+        printError("failed to restore affinity %1%");
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libutil/archive.cc b/src/libutil/archive.cc
index edd4a881b..b9b26c5f5 100644
--- a/src/libutil/archive.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/archive.cc
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static void dump(const Path & path, Sink & sink, PathFilter & filter)
                 string name(i.name);
                 size_t pos = i.name.find(caseHackSuffix);
                 if (pos != string::npos) {
-                    printMsg(lvlDebug, format("removing case hack suffix from ‘%1%’") % (path + "/" + i.name));
+                    debug(format("removing case hack suffix from ‘%1%’") % (path + "/" + i.name));
                     name.erase(pos);
                 }
                 if (unhacked.find(name) != unhacked.end())
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ static void parse(ParseSink & sink, Source & source, const Path & path)
                     if (useCaseHack) {
                         auto i = names.find(name);
                         if (i != names.end()) {
-                            printMsg(lvlDebug, format("case collision between ‘%1%’ and ‘%2%’") % i->first % name);
+                            debug(format("case collision between ‘%1%’ and ‘%2%’") % i->first % name);
                             name += caseHackSuffix;
                             name += std::to_string(++i->second);
                         } else
diff --git a/src/libutil/logging.cc b/src/libutil/logging.cc
index 0229ba472..d9e8d22d7 100644
--- a/src/libutil/logging.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/logging.cc
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Verbosity verbosity = lvlInfo;
 void warnOnce(bool & haveWarned, const FormatOrString & fs)
 {
     if (!haveWarned) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: %1%") % fs.s);
+        printError(format("warning: %1%") % fs.s);
         haveWarned = true;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/libutil/serialise.cc b/src/libutil/serialise.cc
index 776308cdf..24c6d1073 100644
--- a/src/libutil/serialise.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/serialise.cc
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ size_t threshold = 256 * 1024 * 1024;
 
 static void warnLargeDump()
 {
-    printMsg(lvlError, "warning: dumping very large path (> 256 MiB); this may run out of memory");
+    printError("warning: dumping very large path (> 256 MiB); this may run out of memory");
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/libutil/thread-pool.cc b/src/libutil/thread-pool.cc
index 696ecd6c3..0a3a40724 100644
--- a/src/libutil/thread-pool.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/thread-pool.cc
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ void ThreadPool::workerEntry()
             if (state->exception) {
                 if (!dynamic_cast<Interrupted*>(&e) &&
                     !dynamic_cast<ThreadPoolShutDown*>(&e))
-                    printMsg(lvlError, format("error: %s") % e.what());
+                    printError(format("error: %s") % e.what());
             } else {
                 state->exception = std::current_exception();
                 work.notify_all();
diff --git a/src/libutil/util.cc b/src/libutil/util.cc
index ce54350d7..2998506b5 100644
--- a/src/libutil/util.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/util.cc
@@ -724,20 +724,20 @@ void Pid::kill(bool quiet)
     if (pid == -1 || pid == 0) return;
 
     if (!quiet)
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("killing process %1%") % pid);
+        printError(format("killing process %1%") % pid);
 
     /* Send the requested signal to the child.  If it has its own
        process group, send the signal to every process in the child
        process group (which hopefully includes *all* its children). */
     if (::kill(separatePG ? -pid : pid, killSignal) != 0)
-        printMsg(lvlError, (SysError(format("killing process %1%") % pid).msg()));
+        printError((SysError(format("killing process %1%") % pid).msg()));
 
     /* Wait until the child dies, disregarding the exit status. */
     int status;
     while (waitpid(pid, &status, 0) == -1) {
         checkInterrupt();
         if (errno != EINTR) {
-            printMsg(lvlError,
+            printError(
                 (SysError(format("waiting for process %1%") % pid).msg()));
             break;
         }
@@ -1125,7 +1125,7 @@ void ignoreException()
     try {
         throw;
     } catch (std::exception & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("error (ignored): %1%") % e.what());
+        printError(format("error (ignored): %1%") % e.what());
     }
 }
 
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ void callFailure(const std::function<void(std::exception_ptr exc)> & failure, st
     try {
         failure(exc);
     } catch (std::exception & e) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("uncaught exception: %s") % e.what());
+        printError(format("uncaught exception: %s") % e.what());
         abort();
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc b/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
index 3aa348581..cc663a969 100644
--- a/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
+++ b/src/nix-collect-garbage/nix-collect-garbage.cc
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ void removeOldGenerations(std::string dir)
                 if (e.errNo == ENOENT) continue;
             }
             if (link.find("link") != string::npos) {
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, format("removing old generations of profile %1%") % path);
+                printInfo(format("removing old generations of profile %1%") % path);
                 if (deleteOlderThan != "")
                     deleteGenerationsOlderThan(path, deleteOlderThan, dryRun);
                 else
diff --git a/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc b/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
index f2b59c84a..5ed38871f 100644
--- a/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
+++ b/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ static void processConnection(bool trusted)
 
         canSendStderr = false;
         _isInterrupted = false;
-        printMsg(lvlDebug, format("%1% operations") % opCount);
+        debug(format("%1% operations") % opCount);
 
     } catch (Error & e) {
         stopWork(false, e.msg(), 1);
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ static void daemonLoop(char * * argv)
             if (!trusted && !matchUser(user, group, allowedUsers))
                 throw Error(format("user ‘%1%’ is not allowed to connect to the Nix daemon") % user);
 
-            printMsg(lvlInfo, format((string) "accepted connection from pid %1%, user %2%" + (trusted ? " (trusted)" : ""))
+            printInfo(format((string) "accepted connection from pid %1%, user %2%" + (trusted ? " (trusted)" : ""))
                 % (peer.pidKnown ? std::to_string(peer.pid) : "<unknown>")
                 % (peer.uidKnown ? user : "<unknown>"));
 
@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ static void daemonLoop(char * * argv)
         } catch (Interrupted & e) {
             throw;
         } catch (Error & e) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("error processing connection: %1%") % e.msg());
+            printError(format("error processing connection: %1%") % e.msg());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
index 6a557e8ac..908c09bc8 100644
--- a/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
+++ b/src/nix-env/nix-env.cc
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static void getAllExprs(EvalState & state,
             if (hasSuffix(attrName, ".nix"))
                 attrName = string(attrName, 0, attrName.size() - 4);
             if (attrs.find(attrName) != attrs.end()) {
-                printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: name collision in input Nix expressions, skipping ‘%1%’") % path2);
+                printError(format("warning: name collision in input Nix expressions, skipping ‘%1%’") % path2);
                 continue;
             }
             attrs.insert(attrName);
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ static DrvInfos filterBySelector(EvalState & state, const DrvInfos & allElems,
             matches.clear();
             for (auto & j : newest) {
                 if (multiple.find(j.second.first.name) != multiple.end())
-                    printMsg(lvlInfo,
+                    printInfo(
                         format("warning: there are multiple derivations named ‘%1%’; using the first one")
                         % j.second.first.name);
                 matches.push_back(j.second);
@@ -496,13 +496,13 @@ static void installDerivations(Globals & globals,
                 if (!globals.preserveInstalled &&
                     newNames.find(drvName.name) != newNames.end() &&
                     !keep(i))
-                    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("replacing old ‘%1%’") % i.name);
+                    printInfo(format("replacing old ‘%1%’") % i.name);
                 else
                     allElems.push_back(i);
             }
 
             for (auto & i : newElems)
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, format("installing ‘%1%’") % i.name);
+                printInfo(format("installing ‘%1%’") % i.name);
         }
 
         printMissing(*globals.state, newElems);
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ static void upgradeDerivations(Globals & globals,
                 {
                     const char * action = compareVersions(drvName.version, bestVersion) <= 0
                         ? "upgrading" : "downgrading";
-                    printMsg(lvlInfo,
+                    printInfo(
                         format("%1% ‘%2%’ to ‘%3%’")
                         % action % i.name % bestElem->name);
                     newElems.push_back(*bestElem);
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ static void opSetFlag(Globals & globals, Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
             DrvName drvName(i.name);
             for (auto & j : selectors)
                 if (j.matches(drvName)) {
-                    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("setting flag on ‘%1%’") % i.name);
+                    printInfo(format("setting flag on ‘%1%’") % i.name);
                     j.hits++;
                     setMetaFlag(*globals.state, i, flagName, flagValue);
                     break;
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ static void uninstallDerivations(Globals & globals, Strings & selectors,
                 if ((isPath(j) && i.queryOutPath() == globals.state->store->followLinksToStorePath(j))
                     || DrvName(j).matches(drvName))
                 {
-                    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("uninstalling ‘%1%’") % i.name);
+                    printInfo(format("uninstalling ‘%1%’") % i.name);
                     found = true;
                     break;
                 }
@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ static void queryJSON(Globals & globals, vector<DrvInfo> & elems)
             auto placeholder = metaObj.placeholder(j);
             Value * v = i.queryMeta(j);
             if (!v) {
-                printMsg(lvlError, format("derivation ‘%1%’ has invalid meta attribute ‘%2%’") % i.name % j);
+                printError(format("derivation ‘%1%’ has invalid meta attribute ‘%2%’") % i.name % j);
                 placeholder.write(nullptr);
             } else {
                 PathSet context;
@@ -1118,7 +1118,7 @@ static void opQuery(Globals & globals, Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
                             attrs2["name"] = j;
                             Value * v = i.queryMeta(j);
                             if (!v)
-                                printMsg(lvlError, format("derivation ‘%1%’ has invalid meta attribute ‘%2%’") % i.name % j);
+                                printError(format("derivation ‘%1%’ has invalid meta attribute ‘%2%’") % i.name % j);
                             else {
                                 if (v->type == tString) {
                                     attrs2["type"] = "string";
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ static void switchGeneration(Globals & globals, int dstGen)
             throw Error(format("generation %1% does not exist") % dstGen);
     }
 
-    printMsg(lvlInfo, format("switching from generation %1% to %2%")
+    printInfo(format("switching from generation %1% to %2%")
         % curGen % dst.number);
 
     if (globals.dryRun) return;
@@ -1372,7 +1372,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
             else if (*arg == "--delete-generations")
                 op = opDeleteGenerations;
             else if (*arg == "--dry-run") {
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, "(dry run; not doing anything)");
+                printInfo("(dry run; not doing anything)");
                 globals.dryRun = true;
             }
             else if (*arg == "--system-filter")
diff --git a/src/nix-env/user-env.cc b/src/nix-env/user-env.cc
index f239f6377..e9997fae5 100644
--- a/src/nix-env/user-env.cc
+++ b/src/nix-env/user-env.cc
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ bool createUserEnv(EvalState & state, DrvInfos & elems,
 
         Path lockTokenCur = optimisticLockProfile(profile);
         if (lockToken != lockTokenCur) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("profile ‘%1%’ changed while we were busy; restarting") % profile);
+            printError(format("profile ‘%1%’ changed while we were busy; restarting") % profile);
             return false;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc b/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
index 2bf2b2e5c..acf603025 100644
--- a/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
+++ b/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
             /* Extract the hash mode. */
             attr = v.attrs->find(state.symbols.create("outputHashMode"));
             if (attr == v.attrs->end())
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, "warning: this does not look like a fetchurl call");
+                printInfo("warning: this does not look like a fetchurl call");
             else
                 unpack = state.forceString(*attr->value) == "recursive";
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
 
             /* Optionally unpack the file. */
             if (unpack) {
-                printMsg(lvlInfo, "unpacking...");
+                printInfo("unpacking...");
                 Path unpacked = (Path) tmpDir + "/unpacked";
                 createDirs(unpacked);
                 if (hasSuffix(baseNameOf(uri), ".zip"))
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
         }
 
         if (!printPath)
-            printMsg(lvlInfo, format("path is ‘%1%’") % storePath);
+            printInfo(format("path is ‘%1%’") % storePath);
 
         std::cout << printHash16or32(hash) << std::endl;
         if (printPath)
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index e8b56f929..a8cb46319 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ static void opVerify(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         else throw UsageError(format("unknown flag ‘%1%’") % i);
 
     if (store->verifyStore(checkContents, repair)) {
-        printMsg(lvlError, "warning: not all errors were fixed");
+        printError("warning: not all errors were fixed");
         throw Exit(1);
     }
 }
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ static void opVerifyPath(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         store->narFromPath(path, sink);
         auto current = sink.finish();
         if (current.first != info->narHash) {
-            printMsg(lvlError,
+            printError(
                 format("path ‘%1%’ was modified! expected hash ‘%2%’, got ‘%3%’")
                 % path % printHash(info->narHash) % printHash(current.first));
             status = 1;
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ static void opServe(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
                         try {
                             store->buildPaths(willSubstitute);
                         } catch (Error & e) {
-                            printMsg(lvlError, format("warning: %1%") % e.msg());
+                            printError(format("warning: %1%") % e.msg());
                         }
                 }
 
diff --git a/src/nix/sigs.cc b/src/nix/sigs.cc
index 9932aa4a9..0ff1b9f7c 100644
--- a/src/nix/sigs.cc
+++ b/src/nix/sigs.cc
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ struct CmdCopySigs : StorePathsCommand
 
         pool.process();
 
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("imported %d signatures") % added);
+        printInfo(format("imported %d signatures") % added);
     }
 };
 
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ struct CmdSignPaths : StorePathsCommand
             }
         }
 
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("added %d signatures") % added);
+        printInfo(format("added %d signatures") % added);
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/nix/verify.cc b/src/nix/verify.cc
index f2b6acdfb..5314a42a4 100644
--- a/src/nix/verify.cc
+++ b/src/nix/verify.cc
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
                     if (hash.first != info->narHash) {
                         logger->incProgress(corruptedLabel);
                         corrupted = 1;
-                        printMsg(lvlError,
+                        printError(
                             format("path ‘%s’ was modified! expected hash ‘%s’, got ‘%s’")
                             % info->path % printHash(info->narHash) % printHash(hash.first));
                     }
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
                                 doSigs(info2->sigs);
                             } catch (InvalidPath &) {
                             } catch (Error & e) {
-                                printMsg(lvlError, format(ANSI_RED "error:" ANSI_NORMAL " %s") % e.what());
+                                printError(format(ANSI_RED "error:" ANSI_NORMAL " %s") % e.what());
                             }
                         }
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
                     if (!good) {
                         logger->incProgress(untrustedLabel);
                         untrusted++;
-                        printMsg(lvlError, format("path ‘%s’ is untrusted") % info->path);
+                        printError(format("path ‘%s’ is untrusted") % info->path);
                     }
 
                 }
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
                 done++;
 
             } catch (Error & e) {
-                printMsg(lvlError, format(ANSI_RED "error:" ANSI_NORMAL " %s") % e.what());
+                printError(format(ANSI_RED "error:" ANSI_NORMAL " %s") % e.what());
                 logger->incProgress(failedLabel);
                 failed++;
             }
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ struct CmdVerify : StorePathsCommand
 
         pool.process();
 
-        printMsg(lvlInfo, format("%d paths checked, %d untrusted, %d corrupted, %d failed")
+        printInfo(format("%d paths checked, %d untrusted, %d corrupted, %d failed")
             % done % untrusted % corrupted % failed);
 
         throw Exit(
diff --git a/src/resolve-system-dependencies/resolve-system-dependencies.cc b/src/resolve-system-dependencies/resolve-system-dependencies.cc
index a5f0cd7b3..ae8ca36ba 100644
--- a/src/resolve-system-dependencies/resolve-system-dependencies.cc
+++ b/src/resolve-system-dependencies/resolve-system-dependencies.cc
@@ -62,13 +62,13 @@ std::set<std::string> runResolver(const Path & filename) {
             }
         }
         if (mach64_offset == 0) {
-            printMsg(lvlError, format("Could not find any mach64 blobs in file ‘%1%’, continuing...") % filename);
+            printError(format("Could not find any mach64 blobs in file ‘%1%’, continuing...") % filename);
             return std::set<string>();
         }
     } else if (magic == MH_MAGIC_64 || magic == MH_CIGAM_64) {
         mach64_offset = 0;
     } else {
-        printMsg(lvlError, format("Object file has unknown magic number ‘%1%’, skipping it...") % magic);
+        printError(format("Object file has unknown magic number ‘%1%’, skipping it...") % magic);
         return std::set<string>();
     }