--- a/src/cmd/goinstall/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/goinstall/main.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ var (
 
 	allpkg            = flag.Bool("a", false, "install all previously installed packages")
 	reportToDashboard = flag.Bool("dashboard", false, "report public packages at "+dashboardURL)
-	logPkgs           = flag.Bool("log", true, "log installed packages to $GOROOT/goinstall.log for use by -a")
+	logPkgs           = flag.Bool("log", false, "log installed packages to $GOROOT/goinstall.log for use by -a")
 	update            = flag.Bool("u", false, "update already-downloaded packages")
 	doInstall         = flag.Bool("install", true, "build and install")
 	clean             = flag.Bool("clean", false, "clean the package directory before installing")
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
+	if os.Getuid() != 0 && os.Getenv("GOPATH") == "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s: set $GOPATH to the directory you want packages installed to if you get permission denied error\n", argv0)
+	}
+
 	// special case - "unsafe" is already installed
 	visit["unsafe"] = done
 
--- a/src/cmd/goinstall/doc.go
+++ b/src/cmd/goinstall/doc.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Flags and default settings:
 	-clean=false      clean the package directory before installing
 	-dashboard=false  tally public packages on godashboard.appspot.com
 	-install=true     build and install the package and its dependencies
-	-log=true         log installed packages to $GOROOT/goinstall.log for use by -a
+	-log=false        log installed packages to $GOROOT/goinstall.log for use by -a
 	-nuke=false       remove the target object and clean before installing
 	-u=false          update already-downloaded packages
 	-v=false          verbose operation