diff --git a/text_formatter.go b/text_formatter.go
index e44f1e1..44b612d 100644
--- a/text_formatter.go
+++ b/text_formatter.go
@@ -46,15 +46,22 @@ type TextFormatter struct {
 	// Enable logging the full timestamp when a TTY is attached instead of just
 	// the time passed since beginning of execution.
 	FullTimestamp bool
+
+	// The fields are sorted by default for a consistent output. For applications
+	// that log extremely frequently and don't use the JSON formatter this may not
+	// be desired.
+	DisableSorting bool
 }
 
 func (f *TextFormatter) Format(entry *Entry) ([]byte, error) {
-
 	var keys []string = make([]string, 0, len(entry.Data))
 	for k := range entry.Data {
 		keys = append(keys, k)
 	}
-	sort.Strings(keys)
+
+	if !f.DisableSorting {
+		sort.Strings(keys)
+	}
 
 	b := &bytes.Buffer{}
 
diff --git a/text_formatter_test.go b/text_formatter_test.go
index 396bc5f..28a9499 100644
--- a/text_formatter_test.go
+++ b/text_formatter_test.go
@@ -32,3 +32,6 @@ func TestQuoting(t *testing.T) {
 	checkQuoting(false, errors.New("invalid"))
 	checkQuoting(true, errors.New("invalid argument"))
 }
+
+// TODO add tests for sorting etc., this requires a parser for the text
+// formatter output.