diff --git a/dev/SysLogWriter.php b/dev/SysLogWriter.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..79c4b11a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev/SysLogWriter.php
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+<?php
+require_once 'Zend/Log/Writer/Abstract.php';
+
+/**
+ * Sends an error message to the system log whenever an
+ * error occurs.
+ * 
+ * @see SS_Log for more information on using writers
+ * @uses Zend_Log_Writer_Abstract
+ * @package sapphire
+ * @subpackage dev
+ */
+class SS_SysLogWriter extends Zend_Log_Writer_Abstract {
+
+	/**
+	 * @param string $ident Identity of log, defaults to "Silverstripe_log" if null
+	 * @param $options Option constants, passed to openlog()
+	 * @param $facility Type of program logging the message, passed to openlog()
+	 */
+	public function __construct($ident = null, $options = null, $facility = LOG_LOCAL0) {
+		if(!$ident) $ident = 'SilverStripe_log';
+		if(!$options) $options = LOG_PID | LOG_PERROR;
+		openlog($ident, $options, $facility);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Close the log when this object is destroyed.
+	 */
+	public function __destruct() {
+		closelog();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Write to the system log with the event details.
+	 * @param array $event Error details
+	 */
+	public function _write($event) {
+		// If no formatter set up, use default then log the event
+		if(!$this->_formatter) $this->setFormatter(new SS_LogErrorFileFormatter());
+		syslog($event['priority'], $this->_formatter->format($event));
+	}
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file