diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/postinstall.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/postinstall.rb
index 798907339c..325916d864 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/postinstall.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/postinstall.rb
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ module Homebrew
       if Sandbox.formula?(formula)
         sandbox = Sandbox.new
         formula.logs.mkpath
-        sandbox.record_log(formula.logs/"sandbox.postinstall.log")
+        sandbox.record_log(formula.logs/"postinstall.sandbox.log")
         sandbox.allow_write_temp_and_cache
         sandbox.allow_write_log(formula)
         sandbox.allow_write_cellar(formula)
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/test.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/test.rb
index 495ea8ec8a..a80fa5e4fe 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/test.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/test.rb
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ module Homebrew
           if Sandbox.test?
             sandbox = Sandbox.new
             f.logs.mkpath
-            sandbox.record_log(f.logs/"sandbox.test.log")
+            sandbox.record_log(f.logs/"test.sandbox.log")
             sandbox.allow_write_temp_and_cache
             sandbox.allow_write_log(f)
             sandbox.allow_write_xcode
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
index 3a50fcb0b9..ac60938800 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
@@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ class Formula
   # @private
   attr_accessor :local_bottle_path
 
+  # When performing a build, test, or other loggable action, indicates which
+  # log file location to use.
+  # @private
+  attr_reader :active_log_type
+
   # The {BuildOptions} for this {Formula}. Lists the arguments passed and any
   # {#options} in the {Formula}. Note that these may differ at different times
   # during the installation of a {Formula}. This is annoying but the result of
@@ -735,12 +740,30 @@ class Formula
     prefix+".bottle"
   end
 
-  # The directory where the formula's installation logs will be written.
+  # The directory where the formula's installation or test logs will be written.
   # @private
   def logs
     HOMEBREW_LOGS+name
   end
 
+  # The prefix, if any, to use in filenames for logging current activity
+  def active_log_prefix
+    if active_log_type
+      "#{active_log_type}."
+    else
+      ""
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Runs a block with the given log type in effect for its duration
+  def with_logging(log_type)
+    old_log_type = @active_log_type
+    @active_log_type = log_type
+    yield
+  ensure
+    @active_log_type = old_log_type
+  end
+
   # This method can be overridden to provide a plist.
   # For more examples read Apple's handy manpage:
   # https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man5/plist.5.html
@@ -861,6 +884,17 @@ class Formula
     method(:post_install).owner == self.class
   end
 
+  # @private
+  def run_post_install
+    build = self.build
+    self.build = Tab.for_formula(self)
+    with_logging("post_install") do
+      post_install
+    end
+  ensure
+    self.build = build
+  end
+
   # Tell the user about any caveats regarding this package.
   # @return [String]
   # <pre>def caveats
@@ -1384,7 +1418,9 @@ class Formula
       ENV["HOME"] = @testpath
       setup_home @testpath
       begin
-        test
+        with_logging("test") do
+          test
+        end
       rescue Exception
         staging.retain! if ARGV.debug?
         raise
@@ -1476,7 +1512,7 @@ class Formula
 
     @exec_count ||= 0
     @exec_count += 1
-    logfn = "#{logs}/%02d.%s" % [@exec_count, File.basename(cmd).split(" ").first]
+    logfn = "#{logs}/#{active_log_prefix}%02d.%s" % [@exec_count, File.basename(cmd).split(" ").first]
     logs.mkpath
 
     File.open(logfn, "w") do |log|
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula_installer.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula_installer.rb
index 03c9f83145..a1fd5ba0e9 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula_installer.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula_installer.rb
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ class FormulaInstaller
       if Sandbox.formula?(formula)
         sandbox = Sandbox.new
         formula.logs.mkpath
-        sandbox.record_log(formula.logs/"sandbox.build.log")
+        sandbox.record_log(formula.logs/"build.sandbox.log")
         sandbox.allow_write_temp_and_cache
         sandbox.allow_write_log(formula)
         sandbox.allow_write_xcode
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/postinstall.rb b/Library/Homebrew/postinstall.rb
index c5c7ace319..0b6d8f6b01 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/postinstall.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/postinstall.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ begin
 
   formula = ARGV.resolved_formulae.first
   formula.extend(Debrew::Formula) if ARGV.debug?
-  formula.post_install
+  formula.run_post_install
 rescue Exception => e
   Marshal.dump(e, error_pipe)
   error_pipe.close