diff --git a/spec/logger.spec.ts b/spec/logger.spec.ts
index c82497d31..54181b64d 100644
--- a/spec/logger.spec.ts
+++ b/spec/logger.spec.ts
@@ -2,12 +2,7 @@ import { expect } from 'chai';
 
 import * as logger from '../src/logger';
 
-const SUPPORTS_STRUCTURED_LOGS =
-  parseInt(process.versions?.node?.split('.')?.[0] || '8', 10) >= 10;
-
-describe(`logger (${
-  SUPPORTS_STRUCTURED_LOGS ? 'structured' : 'unstructured'
-})`, () => {
+describe('logger', () => {
   const stdoutWrite = process.stdout.write.bind(process.stdout);
   const stderrWrite = process.stderr.write.bind(process.stderr);
   let lastOut: string;
@@ -30,12 +25,7 @@ describe(`logger (${
   });
 
   function expectOutput(last: string, entry: any) {
-    if (SUPPORTS_STRUCTURED_LOGS) {
-      return expect(JSON.parse(last.trim())).to.deep.eq(entry);
-    } else {
-      // legacy logging is not structured, but do a sanity check
-      return expect(last).to.include(entry.message);
-    }
+    return expect(JSON.parse(last.trim())).to.deep.eq(entry);
   }
 
   function expectStdout(entry: any) {
diff --git a/src/logger/common.ts b/src/logger/common.ts
index 020883bbb..38d2edd54 100644
--- a/src/logger/common.ts
+++ b/src/logger/common.ts
@@ -20,12 +20,6 @@
 // OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 // SOFTWARE.
 
-// Determine if structured logs are supported (node >= 10). If something goes wrong,
-// assume no since unstructured is safer.
-/** @hidden */
-export const SUPPORTS_STRUCTURED_LOGS =
-  parseInt(process.versions?.node?.split('.')?.[0] || '8', 10) >= 10;
-
 // Map LogSeverity types to their equivalent `console.*` method.
 /** @hidden */
 export const CONSOLE_SEVERITY: {
diff --git a/src/logger/compat.ts b/src/logger/compat.ts
index 7300a197b..f001a95a4 100644
--- a/src/logger/compat.ts
+++ b/src/logger/compat.ts
@@ -21,23 +21,19 @@
 // SOFTWARE.
 
 import { format } from 'util';
-import {
-  CONSOLE_SEVERITY,
-  SUPPORTS_STRUCTURED_LOGS,
-  UNPATCHED_CONSOLE,
-} from './common';
+import { CONSOLE_SEVERITY, UNPATCHED_CONSOLE } from './common';
 
 /** @hidden */
 function patchedConsole(severity: string): (data: any, ...args: any[]) => void {
   return function(data: any, ...args: any[]): void {
-    if (SUPPORTS_STRUCTURED_LOGS) {
-      UNPATCHED_CONSOLE[CONSOLE_SEVERITY[severity]](
-        JSON.stringify({ severity, message: format(data, ...args) })
-      );
-      return;
+    let message = format(data, ...args);
+    if (severity === 'ERROR') {
+      message = new Error(message).stack || message;
     }
 
-    UNPATCHED_CONSOLE[CONSOLE_SEVERITY[severity]](data, ...args);
+    UNPATCHED_CONSOLE[CONSOLE_SEVERITY[severity]](
+      JSON.stringify({ severity, message })
+    );
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/logger/index.ts b/src/logger/index.ts
index 02750f845..52effcbd7 100644
--- a/src/logger/index.ts
+++ b/src/logger/index.ts
@@ -22,11 +22,7 @@
 
 import { format } from 'util';
 
-import {
-  CONSOLE_SEVERITY,
-  SUPPORTS_STRUCTURED_LOGS,
-  UNPATCHED_CONSOLE,
-} from './common';
+import { CONSOLE_SEVERITY, UNPATCHED_CONSOLE } from './common';
 
 /**
  * `LogSeverity` indicates the detailed severity of the log entry. See [LogSeverity](https://cloud.google.com/logging/docs/reference/v2/rest/v2/LogEntry#logseverity).
@@ -90,30 +86,9 @@ function removeCircular(obj: any, refs: any[] = []): any {
  * @public
  */
 export function write(entry: LogEntry) {
-  if (SUPPORTS_STRUCTURED_LOGS) {
-    UNPATCHED_CONSOLE[CONSOLE_SEVERITY[entry.severity]](
-      JSON.stringify(removeCircular(entry))
-    );
-    return;
-  }
-
-  let message = entry.message || '';
-  const jsonPayload: { [key: string]: any } = {};
-  let jsonKeyCount = 0;
-  for (const k in entry) {
-    if (!['severity', 'message'].includes(k)) {
-      jsonKeyCount++;
-      jsonPayload[k] = entry[k];
-    }
-  }
-  if (jsonKeyCount > 0) {
-    message = `${message} ${JSON.stringify(
-      removeCircular(jsonPayload),
-      null,
-      2
-    )}`;
-  }
-  UNPATCHED_CONSOLE[CONSOLE_SEVERITY[entry.severity]](message);
+  UNPATCHED_CONSOLE[CONSOLE_SEVERITY[entry.severity]](
+    JSON.stringify(removeCircular(entry))
+  );
 }
 
 /**
@@ -173,9 +148,10 @@ function entryFromArgs(severity: LogSeverity, args: any[]): LogEntry {
   if (lastArg && typeof lastArg == 'object' && lastArg.constructor == Object) {
     entry = args.pop();
   }
-  return Object.assign({}, entry, {
-    severity,
-    // mimic `console.*` behavior, see https://nodejs.org/api/console.html#console_console_log_data_args
-    message: format.apply(null, args),
-  });
+  // mimic `console.*` behavior, see https://nodejs.org/api/console.html#console_console_log_data_args
+  let message = format.apply(null, args);
+  if (severity === 'ERROR' && !args.find((arg) => arg instanceof Error)) {
+    message = new Error(message).stack || message;
+  }
+  return { ...entry, severity, message };
 }