diff --git a/bench/bench.cpp b/bench/bench.cpp
index 61e9fcb3..ad8d7a24 100644
--- a/bench/bench.cpp
+++ b/bench/bench.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ using namespace utils;
 
 void bench(int howmany, std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> log);
 void bench_mt(int howmany, std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> log, int thread_count);
+void bench_default_api(int howmany, std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> log);
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
@@ -56,16 +57,34 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                 "*************\n";
 
         auto basic_st = spdlog::basic_logger_st("basic_st", "logs/basic_st.log", true);
-        bench(howmany, basic_st);
+        bench(howmany, std::move(basic_st));
 
+        basic_st.reset();
         auto rotating_st = spdlog::rotating_logger_st("rotating_st", "logs/rotating_st.log", file_size, rotating_files);
-        bench(howmany, rotating_st);
+        bench(howmany, std::move(rotating_st));
 
         auto daily_st = spdlog::daily_logger_st("daily_st", "logs/daily_st.log");
-        bench(howmany, daily_st);
+        bench(howmany, std::move(daily_st));
 
         bench(howmany, spdlog::create<null_sink_st>("null_st"));
 
+        cout << "******************************************************************"
+                "*************\n";
+        cout << "Default API. Single thread, " << format(howmany) << " iterations" << endl;
+        cout << "******************************************************************"
+                "*************\n";
+
+        basic_st = spdlog::basic_logger_st("basic_st", "logs/basic_st.log", true);
+        bench_default_api(howmany, std::move(basic_st));
+
+        rotating_st = spdlog::rotating_logger_st("rotating_st", "logs/rotating_st.log", file_size, rotating_files);
+        bench_default_api(howmany, std::move(rotating_st));
+
+        daily_st = spdlog::daily_logger_st("daily_st", "logs/daily_st.log");
+        bench_default_api(howmany, std::move(daily_st));
+
+        bench_default_api(howmany, spdlog::create<null_sink_st>("null_st"));
+
         cout << "\n****************************************************************"
                 "***************\n";
         cout << threads << " threads sharing same logger, " << format(howmany) << " iterations" << endl;
@@ -73,13 +92,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                 "*************\n";
 
         auto basic_mt = spdlog::basic_logger_mt("basic_mt", "logs/basic_mt.log", true);
-        bench_mt(howmany, basic_mt, threads);
+        bench_mt(howmany, std::move(basic_mt), threads);
 
         auto rotating_mt = spdlog::rotating_logger_mt("rotating_mt", "logs/rotating_mt.log", file_size, rotating_files);
-        bench_mt(howmany, rotating_mt, threads);
+        bench_mt(howmany, std::move(rotating_mt), threads);
 
         auto daily_mt = spdlog::daily_logger_mt("daily_mt", "logs/daily_mt.log");
-        bench_mt(howmany, daily_mt, threads);
+        bench_mt(howmany, std::move(daily_mt), threads);
         bench_mt(howmany, spdlog::create<null_sink_mt>("null_mt"), threads);
 
         cout << "\n****************************************************************"
@@ -92,8 +111,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         {
             spdlog::init_thread_pool(static_cast<size_t>(queue_size), 1);
             auto as = spdlog::basic_logger_mt<spdlog::async_factory>("async", "logs/basic_async.log", true);
-            bench_mt(howmany, as, threads);
-            spdlog::drop("async");
+            bench_mt(howmany, std::move(as), threads);
         }
     }
     catch (std::exception &ex)
@@ -119,7 +137,7 @@ void bench(int howmany, std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> log)
     auto delta_d = duration_cast<duration<double>>(delta).count();
 
     cout << "Elapsed: " << delta_d << "\t" << format(int(howmany / delta_d)) << "/sec" << endl;
-    spdlog::drop(log->name());
+    spdlog::drop_all();
 }
 
 void bench_mt(int howmany, std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> log, int thread_count)
@@ -146,4 +164,23 @@ void bench_mt(int howmany, std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> log, int thread_count
     auto delta = high_resolution_clock::now() - start;
     auto delta_d = duration_cast<duration<double>>(delta).count();
     cout << "Elapsed: " << delta_d << "\t" << format(int(howmany / delta_d)) << "/sec" << endl;
+    spdlog::drop_all();
+}
+
+void bench_default_api(int howmany, std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> log)
+{
+    using std::chrono::high_resolution_clock;
+    cout << log->name() << "...\t\t" << flush;
+    spdlog::set_default_logger(log);
+    auto start = high_resolution_clock::now();
+    for (auto i = 0; i < howmany; ++i)
+    {
+        spdlog::info("Hello logger: msg number {}", i);
+    }
+
+    auto delta = high_resolution_clock::now() - start;
+    auto delta_d = duration_cast<duration<double>>(delta).count();
+
+    cout << "Elapsed: " << delta_d << "\t" << format(int(howmany / delta_d)) << "/sec" << endl;
+    spdlog::drop_all();
 }
diff --git a/example/example.cpp b/example/example.cpp
index df89ae56..15ca856e 100644
--- a/example/example.cpp
+++ b/example/example.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ void syslog_example();
 void clone_example();
 
 #define SPDLOG_TRACE_ON
-#define SPDLOG_DEBUG_ON
+
 #include "spdlog/spdlog.h"
 
 int main(int, char *[])
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void daily_example()
 // Useful for creating component/subsystem loggers from some "root" logger.
 void clone_example()
 {
-    auto network_logger = spdlog::get()->clone("network");
+    auto network_logger = spdlog::default_logger()->clone("network");
     network_logger->info("Logging network stuff..");
 }
 
@@ -156,10 +156,10 @@ void binary_example()
 }
 
 // Compile time log levels.
-// Must define SPDLOG_DEBUG_ON or SPDLOG_TRACE_ON to turn them on.
+// Must define SPDLOG_DEBUG_ON or SPDLOG_TRACE_ON before including spdlog.h to turn them on.
 void trace_example()
 {
-    auto logger = spdlog::get();
+    auto logger = spdlog::get("file_logger");
     SPDLOG_TRACE(logger, "Enabled only #ifdef SPDLOG_TRACE_ON..{} ,{}", 1, 3.23);
     SPDLOG_DEBUG(logger, "Enabled only #ifdef SPDLOG_DEBUG_ON.. {} ,{}", 1, 3.23);
 }
diff --git a/include/spdlog/details/registry.h b/include/spdlog/details/registry.h
index 26935a25..efb70ade 100644
--- a/include/spdlog/details/registry.h
+++ b/include/spdlog/details/registry.h
@@ -75,13 +75,23 @@ public:
         return found == loggers_.end() ? nullptr : found->second;
     }
 
-    std::shared_ptr<logger> get_default_logger() const
+    std::shared_ptr<logger> default_logger()
     {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(logger_map_mutex_);
         return default_logger_;
     }
 
+    // Return raw ptr to the default logger.
+    // To be used directly by the spdlog default api (e.g. spdlog::info)
+    // This make the default API faster, but cannot be used concurrently with set_default_logger().
+    // e.g do not call set_default_logger() from one thread while calling spdlog::info() from another.
+    logger *get_default_raw()
+    {
+        return default_logger_.get();
+    }
+
     // set default logger.
-    // default logger is stored in default_logger_ (for faster retrieval) and in the map of existing loggers.
+    // default logger is stored in default_logger_ (for faster retrieval) and in the loggers_ map.
     void set_default_logger(std::shared_ptr<logger> new_default_logger)
     {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(logger_map_mutex_);
@@ -90,7 +100,10 @@ public:
         {
             loggers_.erase(default_logger_->name());
         }
-        loggers_[new_default_logger->name()] = new_default_logger;
+        if (new_default_logger != nullptr)
+        {
+            loggers_[new_default_logger->name()] = new_default_logger;
+        }
         default_logger_ = std::move(new_default_logger);
     }
 
@@ -176,6 +189,10 @@ public:
     {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(logger_map_mutex_);
         loggers_.erase(logger_name);
+        if (default_logger_ && default_logger_->name() == logger_name)
+        {
+            default_logger_.reset();
+        }
     }
 
     void drop_all()
diff --git a/include/spdlog/spdlog.h b/include/spdlog/spdlog.h
index 3158909a..bcca2e84 100644
--- a/include/spdlog/spdlog.h
+++ b/include/spdlog/spdlog.h
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ namespace spdlog {
 struct synchronous_factory
 {
     template<typename Sink, typename... SinkArgs>
-
     static std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> create(std::string logger_name, SinkArgs &&... args)
     {
         auto sink = std::make_shared<Sink>(std::forward<SinkArgs>(args)...);
@@ -126,28 +125,29 @@ inline void shutdown()
     details::registry::instance().shutdown();
 }
 
-//
 // API for using default logger (stdout_color_mt),
 // e.g: spdlog::info("Message {}", 1);
 //
-// The default logger object can be accessed using the spdlog::get():
+// The default logger object can be accessed using the spdlog::default_logger():
 // For example, to add another sink to it:
-// spdlog::get()->sinks()->push_back(some_sink);
+// spdlog::default_logger()->sinks()->push_back(some_sink);
 //
 // The default logger can replaced using spdlog::set_default_logger(new_logger).
-// For example, to replace it with a file logger:
-// spdlog::set_default_logger(std::move(spdlog::basic_logger_st("mylog.txt"));
+// For example, to replace it with a file logger.
 //
+// IMPORTANT:
+// The default API is thread safe (for _mt loggers), but:
+// set_default_logger() *should not* be used concurrently with the default API.
+// e.g do not call set_default_logger() from one thread while calling spdlog::info() from another.
 
-// Return the default logger
-// inline std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> get()
-//{
-//    return details::registry::instance().get_default_logger();
-//}
-
-inline std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> get()
+inline std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> default_logger()
 {
-    return details::registry::instance().get_default_logger();
+    return details::registry::instance().default_logger();
+}
+
+inline spdlog::logger *default_logger_raw()
+{
+    return details::registry::instance().get_default_raw();
 }
 
 inline void set_default_logger(std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> default_logger)
@@ -158,128 +158,128 @@ inline void set_default_logger(std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> default_logger)
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void log(level::level_enum lvl, const char *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->log(lvl, fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->log(lvl, fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void trace(const char *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->trace(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->trace(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void debug(const char *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->debug(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->debug(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void info(const char *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->info(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->info(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void warn(const char *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->warn(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->warn(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void error(const char *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->error(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->error(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void critical(const char *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->critical(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->critical(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 inline void log(level::level_enum lvl, const T &msg)
 {
-    get()->log(lvl, msg);
+    default_logger_raw()->log(lvl, msg);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 inline void trace(const T &msg)
 {
-    get()->trace(msg);
+    default_logger_raw()->trace(msg);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 inline void debug(const T &msg)
 {
-    get()->debug(msg);
+    default_logger_raw()->debug(msg);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 inline void info(const T &msg)
 {
-    get()->info(msg);
+    default_logger_raw()->info(msg);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 inline void warn(const T &msg)
 {
-    get()->warn(msg);
+    default_logger_raw()->warn(msg);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 inline void error(const T &msg)
 {
-    get()->error(msg);
+    default_logger_raw()->error(msg);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 inline void critical(const T &msg)
 {
-    get()->critical(msg);
+    default_logger_raw()->critical(msg);
 }
 
 #ifdef SPDLOG_WCHAR_TO_UTF8_SUPPORT
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void log(level::level_enum lvl, const wchar_t *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->log(lvl, fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->log(lvl, fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void trace(const wchar_t *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->trace(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->trace(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void debug(const wchar_t *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->debug(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->debug(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void info(const wchar_t *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->info(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->info(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void warn(const wchar_t *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->warn(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->warn(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void error(const wchar_t *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->error(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->error(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 template<typename... Args>
 inline void critical(const wchar_t *fmt, const Args &... args)
 {
-    get()->critical(fmt, args...);
+    default_logger_raw()->critical(fmt, args...);
 }
 
 #endif // SPDLOG_WCHAR_TO_UTF8_SUPPORT
diff --git a/include/spdlog/tweakme.h b/include/spdlog/tweakme.h
index 2c260ec5..d91159f7 100644
--- a/include/spdlog/tweakme.h
+++ b/include/spdlog/tweakme.h
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@
 // "MY ERROR", "MY CRITICAL", "OFF" }
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Uncomment to disable default logger creation.
 // This might save some (very) small initialization time if no default logger is needed.
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 18d74823..ea9ffb35 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ set(SPDLOG_UTESTS_SOURCES
     test_pattern_formatter.cpp
     test_async.cpp
     includes.h
-    registry.cpp
+    test_registry.cpp
     test_macros.cpp
     utils.cpp
     utils.h
diff --git a/tests/test_misc.cpp b/tests/test_misc.cpp
index 274a328e..f69a3487 100644
--- a/tests/test_misc.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_misc.cpp
@@ -198,35 +198,36 @@ TEST_CASE("default logger API", "[default logger]")
     auto oss_sink = std::make_shared<spdlog::sinks::ostream_sink_mt>(oss);
 
     spdlog::set_default_logger(std::make_shared<spdlog::logger>("oss", oss_sink));
-    spdlog::get()->set_pattern("%v");
+    spdlog::set_pattern("*** %v");
 
-    spdlog::get()->set_level(spdlog::level::trace);
+    spdlog::default_logger()->set_level(spdlog::level::trace);
     spdlog::trace("hello trace");
-    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "hello trace" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
+    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "*** hello trace" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
 
     oss.str("");
     spdlog::debug("hello debug");
-    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "hello debug" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
+    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "*** hello debug" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
 
     oss.str("");
     spdlog::info("Hello");
-    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "Hello" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
+    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "*** Hello" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
 
     oss.str("");
     spdlog::warn("Hello again {}", 2);
-    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "Hello again 2" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
+    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "*** Hello again 2" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
 
     oss.str("");
     spdlog::error(123);
-    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "123" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
+    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "*** 123" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
 
     oss.str("");
     spdlog::critical(std::string("some string"));
-    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "some string" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
+    REQUIRE(oss.str() == "*** some string" + std::string(spdlog::details::os::default_eol));
 
     oss.str("");
     spdlog::set_level(spdlog::level::info);
     spdlog::debug("should not be logged");
     REQUIRE(oss.str().empty());
     spdlog::drop_all();
+    spdlog::set_pattern("%v");
 }
diff --git a/tests/registry.cpp b/tests/test_registry.cpp
similarity index 83%
rename from tests/registry.cpp
rename to tests/test_registry.cpp
index face26d3..68833012 100644
--- a/tests/registry.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_registry.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@ TEST_CASE("drop", "[registry]")
     REQUIRE_FALSE(spdlog::get(tested_logger_name));
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("drop-default", "[registry]")
+{
+    spdlog::set_default_logger(spdlog::null_logger_st(tested_logger_name));
+    spdlog::drop(tested_logger_name);
+    REQUIRE_FALSE(spdlog::default_logger());
+    REQUIRE_FALSE(spdlog::get(tested_logger_name));
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("drop_all", "[registry]")
 {
     spdlog::drop_all();
@@ -59,6 +67,7 @@ TEST_CASE("drop_all", "[registry]")
     spdlog::drop_all();
     REQUIRE_FALSE(spdlog::get(tested_logger_name));
     REQUIRE_FALSE(spdlog::get(tested_logger_name2));
+    REQUIRE_FALSE(spdlog::default_logger());
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("drop non existing", "[registry]")
@@ -75,6 +84,12 @@ TEST_CASE("default logger", "[registry]")
 {
     spdlog::drop_all();
     spdlog::set_default_logger(std::move(spdlog::null_logger_st(tested_logger_name)));
-    REQUIRE(spdlog::get(tested_logger_name) == spdlog::get());
+    REQUIRE(spdlog::get(tested_logger_name) == spdlog::default_logger());
     spdlog::drop_all();
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("set_default_logger(nullptr)", "[registry]")
+{
+    spdlog::set_default_logger(nullptr);
+    REQUIRE_FALSE(spdlog::default_logger());
+}