diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index 55637fb0b..ee6096766 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 package zap
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"errors"
 	"sort"
 	"time"
 
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (cfg Config) Build(opts ...Option) (*Logger, error) {
 	}
 
 	if cfg.Level == (AtomicLevel{}) {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing Level")
+		return nil, errors.New("missing Level")
 	}
 
 	log := New(
diff --git a/encoder.go b/encoder.go
index 08ed83354..caa04ceef 100644
--- a/encoder.go
+++ b/encoder.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func RegisterEncoder(name string, constructor func(zapcore.EncoderConfig) (zapco
 
 func newEncoder(name string, encoderConfig zapcore.EncoderConfig) (zapcore.Encoder, error) {
 	if encoderConfig.TimeKey != "" && encoderConfig.EncodeTime == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing EncodeTime in EncoderConfig")
+		return nil, errors.New("missing EncodeTime in EncoderConfig")
 	}
 
 	_encoderMutex.RLock()
diff --git a/http_handler.go b/http_handler.go
index 1297c33b3..d3a271c7d 100644
--- a/http_handler.go
+++ b/http_handler.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ package zap
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ func decodePutRequest(contentType string, r *http.Request) (zapcore.Level, error
 func decodePutURL(r *http.Request) (zapcore.Level, error) {
 	lvl := r.FormValue("level")
 	if lvl == "" {
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("must specify logging level")
+		return 0, errors.New("must specify logging level")
 	}
 	var l zapcore.Level
 	if err := l.UnmarshalText([]byte(lvl)); err != nil {
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ func decodePutJSON(body io.Reader) (zapcore.Level, error) {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("malformed request body: %v", err)
 	}
 	if pld.Level == nil {
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("must specify logging level")
+		return 0, errors.New("must specify logging level")
 	}
 	return *pld.Level, nil