diff --git a/add_process.go b/add_process.go
index 862f289..84c0fb5 100644
--- a/add_process.go
+++ b/add_process.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ func (h *AddProcessEvent) Handle(e *Event) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	l, err := h.s.log(ci.container.Path(), io)
+	l, err := h.s.copyIO(e.Stdout, e.Stderr, io)
 	if err != nil {
 		// log the error but continue with the other commands
 		logrus.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func (h *AddProcessEvent) Handle(e *Event) error {
 	}
 	h.s.processes[e.Pid] = &containerInfo{
 		container: ci.container,
-		logger:    l,
+		copier:    l,
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/api/grpc/server/server.go b/api/grpc/server/server.go
index 0eae0c2..102e886 100644
--- a/api/grpc/server/server.go
+++ b/api/grpc/server/server.go
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ func (s *apiServer) CreateContainer(ctx context.Context, c *types.CreateContaine
 	e := containerd.NewEvent(containerd.StartContainerEventType)
 	e.ID = c.Id
 	e.BundlePath = c.BundlePath
+	e.Stdout = c.Stdout
+	e.Stderr = c.Stderr
 	if c.Checkpoint != "" {
 		e.Checkpoint = &runtime.Checkpoint{
 			Name: c.Checkpoint,
diff --git a/ctr/container.go b/ctr/container.go
index 522bd2b..9958fc7 100644
--- a/ctr/container.go
+++ b/ctr/container.go
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sync"
+	"syscall"
 	"text/tabwriter"
 
 	"github.com/codegangsta/cli"
@@ -63,6 +68,10 @@ var StartCommand = cli.Command{
 			Value: "",
 			Usage: "checkpoint to start the container from",
 		},
+		cli.BoolFlag{
+			Name:  "interactive,i",
+			Usage: "connect to the stdio of the container",
+		},
 	},
 	Action: func(context *cli.Context) {
 		var (
@@ -75,17 +84,71 @@ var StartCommand = cli.Command{
 		if id == "" {
 			fatal("container id cannot be empty", 1)
 		}
-		c := getClient()
-		if _, err := c.CreateContainer(netcontext.Background(), &types.CreateContainerRequest{
+		r := &types.CreateContainerRequest{
 			Id:         id,
 			BundlePath: path,
 			Checkpoint: context.String("checkpoint"),
-		}); err != nil {
+		}
+		wg := &sync.WaitGroup{}
+		if context.Bool("interactive") {
+			if err := attachStdio(r, wg); err != nil {
+				fatal(err.Error(), 1)
+			}
+		}
+		c := getClient()
+		if _, err := c.CreateContainer(netcontext.Background(), r); err != nil {
 			fatal(err.Error(), 1)
 		}
+		wg.Wait()
 	},
 }
 
+func attachStdio(r *types.CreateContainerRequest, wg *sync.WaitGroup) error {
+	dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "ctr-")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	wg.Add(2)
+	for _, p := range []struct {
+		path string
+		flag int
+		done func(f *os.File)
+	}{
+		{
+			path: filepath.Join(dir, "stdout"),
+			flag: syscall.O_RDWR,
+			done: func(f *os.File) {
+				r.Stdout = filepath.Join(dir, "stdout")
+				go func() {
+					io.Copy(os.Stdout, f)
+					wg.Done()
+				}()
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			path: filepath.Join(dir, "stderr"),
+			flag: syscall.O_RDWR,
+			done: func(f *os.File) {
+				r.Stderr = filepath.Join(dir, "stderr")
+				go func() {
+					io.Copy(os.Stderr, f)
+					wg.Done()
+				}()
+			},
+		},
+	} {
+		if err := syscall.Mkfifo(p.path, 0755); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("mkfifo: %s %v", p.path, err)
+		}
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(p.path, p.flag, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("open: %s %v", p.path, err)
+		}
+		p.done(f)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 var KillCommand = cli.Command{
 	Name:  "kill",
 	Usage: "send a signal to a container or it's processes",
diff --git a/ctr/logs.go b/ctr/logs.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 65e04bd..0000000
--- a/ctr/logs.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"io"
-	"os"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/codegangsta/cli"
-	"github.com/docker/containerd"
-)
-
-var LogsCommand = cli.Command{
-	Name:  "logs",
-	Usage: "view binary container logs generated by containerd",
-	Flags: []cli.Flag{
-		cli.BoolFlag{
-			Name:  "follow,f",
-			Usage: "follow/tail the logs",
-		},
-	},
-	Action: func(context *cli.Context) {
-		path := context.Args().First()
-		if path == "" {
-			fatal("path to the log cannot be empty", 1)
-		}
-		if err := readLogs(path, context.Bool("follow")); err != nil {
-			fatal(err.Error(), 1)
-		}
-	},
-}
-
-func readLogs(path string, follow bool) error {
-	f, err := os.Open(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer f.Close()
-	dec := json.NewDecoder(f)
-	for {
-		var msg *containerd.Message
-		if err := dec.Decode(&msg); err != nil {
-			if err == io.EOF {
-				if follow {
-					time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
-					continue
-				}
-				return nil
-			}
-			return err
-		}
-		switch msg.Stream {
-		case "stdout":
-			os.Stdout.Write(msg.Data)
-		case "stderr":
-			os.Stderr.Write(msg.Data)
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/ctr/main.go b/ctr/main.go
index e966e04..632f168 100644
--- a/ctr/main.go
+++ b/ctr/main.go
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ func main() {
 		CheckpointCommand,
 		ContainersCommand,
 		EventsCommand,
-		LogsCommand,
 	}
 	app.Before = func(context *cli.Context) error {
 		if context.GlobalBool("debug") {
diff --git a/delete.go b/delete.go
index 722da8a..c940cb8 100644
--- a/delete.go
+++ b/delete.go
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ func (h *DeleteEvent) Handle(e *Event) error {
 		if err := h.deleteContainer(i.container); err != nil {
 			logrus.WithField("error", err).Error("containerd: deleting container")
 		}
-		if i.logger != nil {
-			if err := i.logger.Close(); err != nil {
-				logrus.WithField("error", err).Error("containerd: close container logger")
+		if i.copier != nil {
+			if err := i.copier.Close(); err != nil {
+				logrus.WithField("error", err).Error("containerd: close container copier")
 			}
 		}
 		h.s.notifySubscribers(&Event{
diff --git a/event.go b/event.go
index 7239b15..c2346cd 100644
--- a/event.go
+++ b/event.go
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ type Event struct {
 	Timestamp  time.Time
 	ID         string
 	BundlePath string
+	Stdout     string
+	Stderr     string
 	Pid        int
 	Status     int
 	Signal     os.Signal
diff --git a/exit.go b/exit.go
index a997f7f..27557cd 100644
--- a/exit.go
+++ b/exit.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (h *ExecExitEvent) Handle(e *Event) error {
 	if err := info.container.RemoveProcess(e.Pid); err != nil {
 		logrus.WithField("error", err).Error("containerd: find container for pid")
 	}
-	if err := info.logger.Close(); err != nil {
+	if err := info.copier.Close(); err != nil {
 		logrus.WithField("error", err).Error("containerd: close process IO")
 	}
 	delete(h.s.processes, e.Pid)
diff --git a/io.go b/io.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..221dc95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/io.go
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package containerd
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"os"
+)
+
+type ioConfig struct {
+	StdoutPath string
+	StderrPath string
+	Stdin      io.WriteCloser
+	Stdout     io.ReadCloser
+	Stderr     io.ReadCloser
+}
+
+func newCopier(i *ioConfig) (*copier, error) {
+	l := &copier{
+		config: i,
+	}
+	if i.StdoutPath != "" {
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(i.StdoutPath, os.O_RDWR, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		go io.Copy(f, i.Stdout)
+	}
+	if i.StderrPath != "" {
+		f, err := os.OpenFile(i.StderrPath, os.O_RDWR, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		go io.Copy(f, i.Stderr)
+	}
+	return l, nil
+}
+
+type copier struct {
+	config *ioConfig
+}
+
+func (l *copier) Close() (err error) {
+	for _, c := range []io.Closer{
+		l.config.Stdin,
+		l.config.Stdout,
+		l.config.Stderr,
+	} {
+		if cerr := c.Close(); err == nil {
+			err = cerr
+		}
+	}
+	return err
+}
diff --git a/log.go b/log.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 2dc96e7..0000000
--- a/log.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,110 +0,0 @@
-package containerd
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"io"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"sync"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
-)
-
-type logConfig struct {
-	BundlePath string
-	LogSize    int64 // in bytes
-	Stdin      io.WriteCloser
-	Stdout     io.ReadCloser
-	Stderr     io.ReadCloser
-}
-
-func newLogger(i *logConfig) (*logger, error) {
-	l := &logger{
-		config:   i,
-		messages: make(chan *Message, DefaultBufferSize),
-	}
-	f, err := os.OpenFile(
-		filepath.Join(l.config.BundlePath, "logs.json"),
-		os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY|os.O_APPEND,
-		0655,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	l.f = f
-	hout := &logHandler{
-		stream:   "stdout",
-		messages: l.messages,
-	}
-	herr := &logHandler{
-		stream:   "stderr",
-		messages: l.messages,
-	}
-	go func() {
-		io.Copy(hout, i.Stdout)
-	}()
-	go func() {
-		io.Copy(herr, i.Stderr)
-	}()
-	l.start()
-	return l, nil
-}
-
-type Message struct {
-	Stream    string    `json:"stream"`
-	Timestamp time.Time `json:"timestamp"`
-	Data      []byte    `json:"data"`
-}
-
-type logger struct {
-	config   *logConfig
-	f        *os.File
-	wg       sync.WaitGroup
-	messages chan *Message
-}
-
-type logHandler struct {
-	stream   string
-	messages chan *Message
-}
-
-func (h *logHandler) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
-	h.messages <- &Message{
-		Stream:    h.stream,
-		Timestamp: time.Now(),
-		Data:      b,
-	}
-	return len(b), nil
-}
-
-func (l *logger) start() {
-	l.wg.Add(1)
-	go func() {
-		l.wg.Done()
-		enc := json.NewEncoder(l.f)
-		for m := range l.messages {
-			if err := enc.Encode(m); err != nil {
-				logrus.WithField("error", err).Error("write log message")
-			}
-		}
-	}()
-}
-
-func (l *logger) Close() (err error) {
-	for _, c := range []io.Closer{
-		l.config.Stdin,
-		l.config.Stdout,
-		l.config.Stderr,
-	} {
-		if cerr := c.Close(); err == nil {
-			err = cerr
-		}
-	}
-	close(l.messages)
-	l.wg.Wait()
-	if ferr := l.f.Close(); err == nil {
-		err = ferr
-	}
-	return err
-}
diff --git a/runtime/container.go b/runtime/container.go
index b25b69b..16d5283 100644
--- a/runtime/container.go
+++ b/runtime/container.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ func (i *IO) Close() error {
 		i.Stdin,
 		i.Stdout,
 		i.Stderr,
+		i.Console,
 	} {
 		if c != nil {
 			if err := c.Close(); oerr == nil {
@@ -51,9 +52,6 @@ func (i *IO) Close() error {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if i.Console != nil {
-		oerr = i.Console.Close()
-	}
 	return oerr
 }
 
diff --git a/start.go b/start.go
index f84542a..94a8da7 100644
--- a/start.go
+++ b/start.go
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ func (h *StartEvent) Handle(e *Event) error {
 		Err:       e.Err,
 		IO:        io,
 		Container: container,
+		Stdout:    e.Stdout,
+		Stderr:    e.Stderr,
 	}
 	if e.Checkpoint != nil {
 		task.Checkpoint = e.Checkpoint.Name
diff --git a/supervisor.go b/supervisor.go
index b73bc02..8988235 100644
--- a/supervisor.go
+++ b/supervisor.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func NewSupervisor(id, stateDir string, tasks chan *StartTask) (*Supervisor, err
 
 type containerInfo struct {
 	container runtime.Container
-	logger    *logger
+	copier    *copier
 }
 
 type Supervisor struct {
@@ -222,14 +222,15 @@ func (s *Supervisor) SendEvent(evt *Event) {
 	s.events <- evt
 }
 
-func (s *Supervisor) log(path string, i *runtime.IO) (*logger, error) {
-	config := &logConfig{
-		BundlePath: path,
+func (s *Supervisor) copyIO(stdout, stderr string, i *runtime.IO) (*copier, error) {
+	config := &ioConfig{
 		Stdin:      i.Stdin,
 		Stdout:     i.Stdout,
 		Stderr:     i.Stderr,
+		StdoutPath: stdout,
+		StderrPath: stderr,
 	}
-	l, err := newLogger(config)
+	l, err := newCopier(config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/worker.go b/worker.go
index 9f14d33..c7d4dee 100644
--- a/worker.go
+++ b/worker.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ type StartTask struct {
 	Container  runtime.Container
 	Checkpoint string
 	IO         *runtime.IO
+	Stdout     string
+	Stderr     string
 	Err        chan error
 }
 
@@ -34,8 +36,7 @@ func (w *worker) Start() {
 	defer w.wg.Done()
 	for t := range w.s.tasks {
 		started := time.Now()
-		// start logging the container's stdio
-		l, err := w.s.log(t.Container.Path(), t.IO)
+		l, err := w.s.copyIO(t.Stdout, t.Stderr, t.IO)
 		if err != nil {
 			evt := NewEvent(DeleteEventType)
 			evt.ID = t.Container.ID()
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ func (w *worker) Start() {
 			t.Err <- err
 			continue
 		}
-		w.s.containers[t.Container.ID()].logger = l
+		w.s.containers[t.Container.ID()].copier = l
 		if t.Checkpoint != "" {
 			if err := t.Container.Restore(t.Checkpoint); err != nil {
 				evt := NewEvent(DeleteEventType)