diff --git a/client_files/import/main.cpp b/client_files/import/main.cpp
index 8115600bf..cba52e584 100644
--- a/client_files/import/main.cpp
+++ b/client_files/import/main.cpp
@@ -175,14 +175,14 @@ void ImportSkillCaps(SharedDatabase *db) {
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		std::string sql;
+		
 		int class_id, skill_id, level, cap;
 		class_id = atoi(split[0].c_str());
 		skill_id = atoi(split[1].c_str());
 		level = atoi(split[2].c_str());
 		cap = atoi(split[3].c_str());
 
-		StringFormat(sql, "INSERT INTO skill_caps(class, skillID, level, cap) VALUES(%d, %d, %d, %d)",
+		std::string sql = StringFormat("INSERT INTO skill_caps(class, skillID, level, cap) VALUES(%d, %d, %d, %d)",
 			class_id, skill_id, level, cap);
 
 		db->RunQuery(sql.c_str(), (uint32)sql.length());
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ void ImportBaseData(SharedDatabase *db) {
 		mana_fac = atof(split[8].c_str());
 		end_fac = atof(split[9].c_str());
 
-		StringFormat(sql, "INSERT INTO base_data(level, class, hp, mana, end, unk1, unk2, hp_fac, "
+		sql = StringFormat("INSERT INTO base_data(level, class, hp, mana, end, unk1, unk2, hp_fac, "
 			"mana_fac, end_fac) VALUES(%d, %d, %f, %f, %f, %f, %f, %f, %f, %f)",
 			level, class_id, hp, mana, end, unk1, unk2, hp_fac, mana_fac, end_fac);
 
diff --git a/common/Item.cpp b/common/Item.cpp
index 975275c41..74c76d778 100644
--- a/common/Item.cpp
+++ b/common/Item.cpp
@@ -893,8 +893,7 @@ void Inventory::dumpItemCollection(const std::map<int16, ItemInst*> &collection)
 		if (!inst || !inst->GetItem())
 			continue;
 
-		std::string slot;
-		StringFormat(slot, "Slot %d: %s (%d)", it->first, it->second->GetItem()->Name, (inst->GetCharges() <= 0) ? 1 : inst->GetCharges());
+		std::string slot = StringFormat("Slot %d: %s (%d)", it->first, it->second->GetItem()->Name, (inst->GetCharges() <= 0) ? 1 : inst->GetCharges());
 		std::cout << slot << std::endl;
 
 		dumpBagContents(inst, &it);
@@ -913,8 +912,7 @@ void Inventory::dumpBagContents(ItemInst *inst, iter_inst *it) {
 		if (!baginst || !baginst->GetItem())
 			continue;
 
-		std::string subSlot;
-		StringFormat(subSlot, "	Slot %d: %s (%d)", Inventory::CalcSlotId((*it)->first, itb->first),
+		std::string subSlot = StringFormat("	Slot %d: %s (%d)", Inventory::CalcSlotId((*it)->first, itb->first),
 			baginst->GetItem()->Name, (baginst->GetCharges() <= 0) ? 1 : baginst->GetCharges());
 		std::cout << subSlot << std::endl;
 	}
diff --git a/common/StringUtil.cpp b/common/StringUtil.cpp
index b89a1455d..80c92fa88 100644
--- a/common/StringUtil.cpp
+++ b/common/StringUtil.cpp
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@
 // original source: 
 // https://github.com/facebook/folly/blob/master/folly/String.cpp
 //
-void vStringFormat(std::string& output, const char* format, va_list args)
+const std::string vStringFormat(const char* format, va_list args)
 {
+	std::string output;
 	va_list tmpargs;
 
 	va_copy(tmpargs,args);
@@ -48,11 +49,8 @@ void vStringFormat(std::string& output, const char* format, va_list args)
 
 	if (characters_used < 0) {
 		// Looks like we have an invalid format string.
-		// error out.
-		std::string errorMessage("Invalid format string; snprintf returned negative with format string: ");
-		errorMessage.append(format);
-		
-		throw std::runtime_error(errorMessage);
+		// return empty string.
+		return "";
 	}
 	else if ((unsigned int)characters_used > output.capacity()) {
 		output.resize(characters_used+1);
@@ -62,12 +60,10 @@ void vStringFormat(std::string& output, const char* format, va_list args)
 
 		if (characters_used < 0) {
 			// We shouldn't have a format error by this point, but I can't imagine what error we
-			// could have by this point. Still, error out and report it.
-			std::string errorMessage("Invalid format string or unknown vsnprintf error; vsnprintf returned negative with format string: ");
-			errorMessage.append(format);
-		
-			throw std::runtime_error(errorMessage);
+			// could have by this point. Still, return empty string;
+			return "";
 		}
+		return std::move(output);
 	} 
 	else {
 		output.resize(characters_used + 1);
@@ -78,24 +74,23 @@ void vStringFormat(std::string& output, const char* format, va_list args)
 
 		if (characters_used < 0) {
 			// We shouldn't have a format error by this point, but I can't imagine what error we
-			// could have by this point. still error out and report it.
-			std::string errorMessage("Invalid format string or unknown vsnprintf error; vsnprintf returned negative with format string: ");
-			errorMessage.append(format);
-		
-			throw std::runtime_error(errorMessage);
+			// could have by this point. Still, return empty string;
+			return "";
 		}
-		
+		return std::move(output);
 	}
 }
 
-void StringFormat(std::string& output, const char* format, ...)
+const std::string StringFormat(const char* format, ...)
 {
 	va_list args;
 	va_start(args, format);
-	vStringFormat(output,format,args);
+	std::string output = vStringFormat(format,args);
 	va_end(args);
+	return std::move(output);
 }
 
+
 // normal strncpy doesnt put a null term on copied strings, this one does
 // ref: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/wcecrt/htm/_wcecrt_strncpy_wcsncpy.asp
 char* strn0cpy(char* dest, const char* source, uint32 size) {
diff --git a/common/StringUtil.h b/common/StringUtil.h
index 2e4182bf8..fe7e83edf 100644
--- a/common/StringUtil.h
+++ b/common/StringUtil.h
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <vector>
 #include <cstdarg>
+#include <string.h>
 #include "types.h"
 
 
-void vStringFormat(std::string& output, const char* format, va_list args);
-void StringFormat(std::string& output, const char* format, ...);
+const std::string vStringFormat(const char* format, va_list args);
+const std::string StringFormat(const char* format, ...);
 std::string EscapeString(const std::string &s);
 
 const char *MakeLowerString(const char *source);
diff --git a/common/logsys_eqemu.cpp b/common/logsys_eqemu.cpp
index 5086114f5..e1e75996c 100644
--- a/common/logsys_eqemu.cpp
+++ b/common/logsys_eqemu.cpp
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ void log_message(LogType type, const char *fmt, ...) {
 }
 
 void log_messageVA(LogType type, const char *fmt, va_list args) {
-	std::string prefix_buffer;
-	
-	StringFormat(prefix_buffer, "[%s] ", log_type_info[type].name);
+	std::string prefix_buffer = StringFormat("[%s] ", log_type_info[type].name);
 	
 	LogFile->writePVA(EQEMuLog::Debug, prefix_buffer.c_str(), fmt, args);
 }
diff --git a/world/world_logsys.cpp b/world/world_logsys.cpp
index f60186a86..d7f798b6c 100644
--- a/world/world_logsys.cpp
+++ b/world/world_logsys.cpp
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@
 
 void log_message_clientVA(LogType type, Client *who, const char *fmt, va_list args) {
 
-	std::string prefix_buffer;
-	StringFormat(prefix_buffer,"[%s] %s: ", log_type_info[type].name, who->GetAccountName());
+	std::string prefix_buffer = StringFormat("[%s] %s: ", log_type_info[type].name, who->GetAccountName());
 
 	LogFile->writePVA(EQEMuLog::Debug, prefix_buffer.c_str(), fmt, args);
 }
@@ -31,11 +30,11 @@ void log_message_zoneVA(LogType type, ZoneServer *who, const char *fmt, va_list
 	const char *zone_name=who->GetZoneName();
 	
 	if (zone_name == nullptr)
-        StringFormat(zone_tag,"[%d]", who->GetID());
+        zone_tag = StringFormat("[%d]", who->GetID());
 	else
-		StringFormat(zone_tag,"[%d] [%s]",who->GetID(),zone_name);
+		zone_tag = StringFormat("[%d] [%s]",who->GetID(),zone_name);
 
-	StringFormat(prefix_buffer, "[%s] %s ", log_type_info[type].name, zone_tag.c_str());
+	prefix_buffer = StringFormat("[%s] %s ", log_type_info[type].name, zone_tag.c_str());
 
 	LogFile->writePVA(EQEMuLog::Debug, prefix_buffer.c_str(), fmt, args);
 }