diff --git a/infer/src/absint/Errlog.ml b/infer/src/absint/Errlog.ml
index f67627893..f5b936881 100644
--- a/infer/src/absint/Errlog.ml
+++ b/infer/src/absint/Errlog.ml
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ let update errlog_old errlog_new =
   ErrLogHash.iter (fun err_key l -> ignore (add_issue errlog_old err_key l)) errlog_new
 
 
-let log_issue severity err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~linters_def_file ~doc_url ~access ~extras
-    checker exn =
+let log_issue ?severity_override err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~linters_def_file ~doc_url ~access
+    ~extras checker exn =
   let error = Exceptions.recognize_exception exn in
   if not (IssueType.checker_can_report checker error.issue_type) then
     L.die InternalError
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ let log_issue severity err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~linters_def_file ~doc_u
       error.issue_type.unique_id (Checker.get_name checker)
       (Checker.get_name error.issue_type.checker)
       (Checker.get_name checker) ;
-  let severity = Option.value error.severity ~default:severity in
+  let severity = Option.value severity_override ~default:error.issue_type.default_severity in
   let hide_java_loc_zero =
     (* hide java errors at location zero unless in -developer_mode *)
     (not Config.developer_mode) && Language.curr_language_is Java && Int.equal loc.Location.line 0
@@ -254,9 +254,9 @@ let log_issue severity err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~linters_def_file ~doc_u
     in
     let should_print_now = match exn with Exceptions.Internal_error _ -> true | _ -> added in
     let print_now () =
-      L.(debug Analysis Medium)
-        "@\n%a@\n@?"
-        (Exceptions.pp_err loc severity error.issue_type error.description error.ocaml_pos)
+      L.debug Analysis Medium "@\n%a@\n@?"
+        (Exceptions.pp_err ~severity_override:severity loc error.issue_type error.description
+           error.ocaml_pos)
         () ;
       if not (IssueType.equal_severity severity Error) then (
         let warn_str =
diff --git a/infer/src/absint/Errlog.mli b/infer/src/absint/Errlog.mli
index b2fef3df0..f9effc105 100644
--- a/infer/src/absint/Errlog.mli
+++ b/infer/src/absint/Errlog.mli
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ val update : t -> t -> unit
 (** Update an old error log with a new one *)
 
 val log_issue :
-     IssueType.severity
+     ?severity_override:IssueType.severity
   -> t
   -> loc:Location.t
   -> node:node
diff --git a/infer/src/absint/Exceptions.ml b/infer/src/absint/Exceptions.ml
index 2be75d94b..9b1fc5b96 100644
--- a/infer/src/absint/Exceptions.ml
+++ b/infer/src/absint/Exceptions.ml
@@ -100,155 +100,93 @@ exception Wrong_argument_number of L.ocaml_pos
 type t =
   { issue_type: IssueType.t
   ; description: Localise.error_desc
-  ; ocaml_pos: L.ocaml_pos option  (** location in the infer source code *)
-  ; severity: IssueType.severity option }
+  ; ocaml_pos: L.ocaml_pos option  (** location in the infer source code *) }
 
 let recognize_exception exn =
   match exn with
   | Abduction_case_not_implemented ocaml_pos ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.abduction_case_not_implemented
       ; description= Localise.no_desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | Analysis_stops (desc, ocaml_pos_opt) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.biabduction_analysis_stops
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= ocaml_pos_opt
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.biabduction_analysis_stops; description= desc; ocaml_pos= ocaml_pos_opt}
   | Array_of_pointsto ocaml_pos ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.array_of_pointsto
       ; description= Localise.no_desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | Array_out_of_bounds_l1 (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.array_out_of_bounds_l1
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Error }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.array_out_of_bounds_l1; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Array_out_of_bounds_l2 (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.array_out_of_bounds_l2
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.array_out_of_bounds_l2; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Array_out_of_bounds_l3 (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.array_out_of_bounds_l3
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.array_out_of_bounds_l3; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Assert_failure (f, l, c) ->
       let ocaml_pos = (f, l, c, c) in
       { issue_type= IssueType.assert_failure
       ; description= Localise.no_desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | Bad_footprint ocaml_pos ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.bad_footprint
-      ; description= Localise.no_desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.bad_footprint; description= Localise.no_desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Biabd_use_after_free (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.biabd_use_after_free
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.biabd_use_after_free; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Cannot_star ocaml_pos ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.cannot_star
-      ; description= Localise.no_desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.cannot_star; description= Localise.no_desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Class_cast_exception (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.class_cast_exception
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.class_cast_exception; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Condition_always_true_false (desc, b, ocaml_pos) ->
       let issue_type =
         if b then IssueType.biabd_condition_always_true else IssueType.biabd_condition_always_false
       in
-      {issue_type; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos; severity= None}
+      {issue_type; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Custom_error (error_msg, severity, desc) ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.register_from_string ~id:error_msg severity Biabduction
       ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= None
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= None }
   | Dangling_pointer_dereference (user_visible, desc, ocaml_pos) ->
       let issue_type =
         if user_visible then IssueType.dangling_pointer_dereference
         else IssueType.dangling_pointer_dereference_maybe
       in
-      {issue_type; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos; severity= None}
+      {issue_type; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Deallocate_stack_variable desc ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.deallocate_stack_variable
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= None
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.deallocate_stack_variable; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None}
   | Deallocate_static_memory desc ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.deallocate_static_memory
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= None
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.deallocate_static_memory; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None}
   | Deallocation_mismatch (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.deallocation_mismatch
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.deallocation_mismatch; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Divide_by_zero (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.divide_by_zero
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Error }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.divide_by_zero; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Empty_vector_access (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.empty_vector_access
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Error }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.empty_vector_access; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Field_not_null_checked (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.field_not_null_checked
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Warning }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.field_not_null_checked; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Frontend_warning (issue_type, desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      {issue_type; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos; severity= None}
+      {issue_type; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Checkers (kind, desc) ->
-      {issue_type= kind; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None; severity= None}
+      {issue_type= kind; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None}
   | Null_dereference (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.null_dereference
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.null_dereference; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Null_test_after_dereference (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.null_test_after_dereference
       ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | Pointer_size_mismatch (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.pointer_size_mismatch
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Error }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.pointer_size_mismatch; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Inherently_dangerous_function desc ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.inherently_dangerous_function
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= None
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.inherently_dangerous_function; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None}
   | Internal_error desc ->
-      {issue_type= IssueType.internal_error; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None; severity= None}
+      {issue_type= IssueType.internal_error; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None}
   | Leak (fp_part, (user_visible, error_desc), done_array_abstraction, resource, ocaml_pos) ->
       if done_array_abstraction then
         { issue_type= IssueType.leak_after_array_abstraction
         ; description= error_desc
-        ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-        ; severity= None }
+        ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
       else if fp_part then
-        { issue_type= IssueType.leak_in_footprint
-        ; description= error_desc
-        ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-        ; severity= None }
+        {issue_type= IssueType.leak_in_footprint; description= error_desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
       else if not user_visible then
         { issue_type= IssueType.leak_unknown_origin
         ; description= error_desc
-        ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-        ; severity= None }
+        ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
       else
         let issue_type =
           match resource with
@@ -261,83 +199,53 @@ let recognize_exception exn =
           | PredSymb.Rignore ->
               IssueType.memory_leak
         in
-        {issue_type; description= error_desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos; severity= None}
+        {issue_type; description= error_desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Missing_fld (fld, ocaml_pos) ->
       let desc = Localise.verbatim_desc (Fieldname.to_full_string fld) in
-      { issue_type= IssueType.missing_fld
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.missing_fld; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Premature_nil_termination (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.premature_nil_termination
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.premature_nil_termination; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Parameter_not_null_checked (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.parameter_not_null_checked
       ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Warning }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | Precondition_not_found (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.precondition_not_found
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.precondition_not_found; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Precondition_not_met (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.precondition_not_met
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Warning }
-      (* always a warning *)
+      {issue_type= IssueType.precondition_not_met; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Retain_cycle (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.retain_cycle
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.retain_cycle; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Registered_observer_being_deallocated (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.biabd_registered_observer_being_deallocated
       ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Error }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | Stack_variable_address_escape (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.biabd_stack_variable_address_escape
       ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Error }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | SymOp.Analysis_failure_exe _ ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.failure_exe
-      ; description= Localise.no_desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= None
-      ; severity= None }
+      {issue_type= IssueType.failure_exe; description= Localise.no_desc; ocaml_pos= None}
   | Skip_function desc ->
-      {issue_type= IssueType.skip_function; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None; severity= None}
+      {issue_type= IssueType.skip_function; description= desc; ocaml_pos= None}
   | Skip_pointer_dereference (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
-      { issue_type= IssueType.skip_pointer_dereference
-      ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= Some Info }
-      (* always an info *)
+      {issue_type= IssueType.skip_pointer_dereference; description= desc; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos}
   | Symexec_memory_error ocaml_pos ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.symexec_memory_error
       ; description= Localise.no_desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | Unary_minus_applied_to_unsigned_expression (desc, ocaml_pos) ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.unary_minus_applied_to_unsigned_expression
       ; description= desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | Wrong_argument_number ocaml_pos ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.wrong_argument_number
       ; description= Localise.no_desc
-      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= Some ocaml_pos }
   | exn ->
       { issue_type= IssueType.failure_exe
       ; description=
           Localise.verbatim_desc (F.asprintf "%a: %s" Exn.pp exn (Caml.Printexc.get_backtrace ()))
-      ; ocaml_pos= None
-      ; severity= None }
+      ; ocaml_pos= None }
 
 
 (** print a description of the exception to the html output *)
@@ -355,7 +263,8 @@ let print_exception_html s exn =
 
 
 (** pretty print an error *)
-let pp_err loc severity issue_type desc ocaml_pos_opt fmt () =
+let pp_err ?severity_override loc issue_type desc ocaml_pos_opt fmt () =
+  let severity = Option.value severity_override ~default:issue_type.IssueType.default_severity in
   let kind =
     IssueType.string_of_severity
       (if IssueType.equal_severity severity Info then Warning else severity)
diff --git a/infer/src/absint/Exceptions.mli b/infer/src/absint/Exceptions.mli
index 8c964fca4..942c1a543 100644
--- a/infer/src/absint/Exceptions.mli
+++ b/infer/src/absint/Exceptions.mli
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ val print_exception_html : string -> exn -> unit
 (** print a description of the exception to the html output *)
 
 val pp_err :
-     Location.t
-  -> IssueType.severity
+     ?severity_override:IssueType.severity
+  -> Location.t
   -> IssueType.t
   -> Localise.error_desc
   -> Logging.ocaml_pos option
@@ -118,7 +118,6 @@ val pp_err :
 type t =
   { issue_type: IssueType.t
   ; description: Localise.error_desc
-  ; ocaml_pos: Logging.ocaml_pos option  (** location in the infer source code *)
-  ; severity: IssueType.severity option }
+  ; ocaml_pos: Logging.ocaml_pos option  (** location in the infer source code *) }
 
 val recognize_exception : exn -> t
diff --git a/infer/src/absint/Reporting.ml b/infer/src/absint/Reporting.ml
index 403898003..8519714a8 100644
--- a/infer/src/absint/Reporting.ml
+++ b/infer/src/absint/Reporting.ml
@@ -10,22 +10,23 @@ open! IStd
 type log_t =
   ?ltr:Errlog.loc_trace -> ?extras:Jsonbug_t.extra -> Checker.t -> IssueType.t -> string -> unit
 
-let log_issue_from_errlog severity err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~access ~extras checker exn =
+let log_issue_from_errlog ?severity_override err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~access ~extras
+    checker exn =
   let issue_type = (Exceptions.recognize_exception exn).issue_type in
   if (not Config.filtering) (* no-filtering takes priority *) || issue_type.IssueType.enabled then
     let doc_url = issue_type.doc_url in
     let linters_def_file = issue_type.linters_def_file in
-    Errlog.log_issue severity err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~linters_def_file ~doc_url ~access
-      ~extras checker exn
+    Errlog.log_issue ?severity_override err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~linters_def_file ~doc_url
+      ~access ~extras checker exn
 
 
-let log_frontend_issue severity errlog ~loc ~node_key ~ltr exn =
+let log_frontend_issue errlog ~loc ~node_key ~ltr exn =
   let node = Errlog.FrontendNode {node_key} in
-  log_issue_from_errlog severity errlog ~loc ~node ~session:0 ~ltr ~access:None ~extras:None Linters
-    exn
+  log_issue_from_errlog errlog ~loc ~node ~session:0 ~ltr ~access:None ~extras:None Linters exn
 
 
-let log_issue_from_summary severity proc_desc err_log ~node ~session ~loc ~ltr ?extras checker exn =
+let log_issue_from_summary ?severity_override proc_desc err_log ~node ~session ~loc ~ltr ?extras
+    checker exn =
   let procname = Procdesc.get_proc_name proc_desc in
   let is_java_generated_method =
     match procname with
@@ -49,36 +50,38 @@ let log_issue_from_summary severity proc_desc err_log ~node ~session ~loc ~ltr ?
   if should_suppress_lint || is_java_generated_method || is_java_external_package then
     Logging.debug Analysis Medium "Reporting is suppressed!@\n" (* Skip the reporting *)
   else
-    log_issue_from_errlog severity err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~access:None ~extras checker exn
+    log_issue_from_errlog ?severity_override err_log ~loc ~node ~session ~ltr ~access:None ~extras
+      checker exn
 
 
 let checker_exception issue_type error_message =
   Exceptions.Checkers (issue_type, Localise.verbatim_desc error_message)
 
 
-let log_issue_from_summary_simplified severity attrs err_log ~loc ?(ltr = []) ?extras checker
-    issue_type error_message =
+let log_issue_from_summary_simplified ?severity_override attrs err_log ~loc ?(ltr = []) ?extras
+    checker issue_type error_message =
   let exn = checker_exception issue_type error_message in
-  log_issue_from_summary severity attrs err_log ~node:Errlog.UnknownNode ~session:0 ~loc ~ltr
-    ?extras checker exn
+  log_issue_from_summary ?severity_override attrs err_log ~node:Errlog.UnknownNode ~session:0 ~loc
+    ~ltr ?extras checker exn
 
 
 let log_error attrs err_log ~loc ?ltr ?extras checker issue_type error_message =
-  log_issue_from_summary_simplified Error attrs err_log ~loc ?ltr ?extras checker issue_type
-    error_message
+  log_issue_from_summary_simplified ~severity_override:Error attrs err_log ~loc ?ltr ?extras checker
+    issue_type error_message
 
 
 let log_warning attrs err_log ~loc ?ltr ?extras checker issue_type error_message =
-  log_issue_from_summary_simplified Warning attrs err_log ~loc ?ltr ?extras checker issue_type
-    error_message
+  log_issue_from_summary_simplified ~severity_override:Warning attrs err_log ~loc ?ltr ?extras
+    checker issue_type error_message
 
 
-let log_issue_external procname ~issue_log severity ~loc ~ltr ?access ?extras checker issue_type
-    error_message =
+let log_issue_external procname ~issue_log ?severity_override ~loc ~ltr ?access ?extras checker
+    issue_type error_message =
   let exn = checker_exception issue_type error_message in
   let issue_log, errlog = IssueLog.get_or_add issue_log ~proc:procname in
   let node = Errlog.UnknownNode in
-  log_issue_from_errlog severity errlog ~loc ~node ~session:0 ~ltr ~access ~extras checker exn ;
+  log_issue_from_errlog ?severity_override errlog ~loc ~node ~session:0 ~ltr ~access ~extras checker
+    exn ;
   issue_log
 
 
diff --git a/infer/src/absint/Reporting.mli b/infer/src/absint/Reporting.mli
index 8c503e7d1..5ae6b7fae 100644
--- a/infer/src/absint/Reporting.mli
+++ b/infer/src/absint/Reporting.mli
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ type log_t =
   ?ltr:Errlog.loc_trace -> ?extras:Jsonbug_t.extra -> Checker.t -> IssueType.t -> string -> unit
 
 val log_issue_from_summary :
-     IssueType.severity
+     ?severity_override:IssueType.severity
   -> Procdesc.t
   -> Errlog.t
   -> node:Errlog.node
@@ -26,13 +26,7 @@ val log_issue_from_summary :
   -> unit
 
 val log_frontend_issue :
-     IssueType.severity
-  -> Errlog.t
-  -> loc:Location.t
-  -> node_key:Procdesc.NodeKey.t
-  -> ltr:Errlog.loc_trace
-  -> exn
-  -> unit
+  Errlog.t -> loc:Location.t -> node_key:Procdesc.NodeKey.t -> ltr:Errlog.loc_trace -> exn -> unit
 (** Report a frontend issue of a given kind in the given error log. *)
 
 val log_error : Procdesc.t -> Errlog.t -> loc:Location.t -> log_t
@@ -44,7 +38,7 @@ val log_warning : Procdesc.t -> Errlog.t -> loc:Location.t -> log_t
 val log_issue_external :
      Procname.t
   -> issue_log:IssueLog.t
-  -> IssueType.severity
+  -> ?severity_override:IssueType.severity
   -> loc:Location.t
   -> ltr:Errlog.loc_trace
   -> ?access:string
diff --git a/infer/src/al/ALIssues.ml b/infer/src/al/ALIssues.ml
index b06abb277..224ff168c 100644
--- a/infer/src/al/ALIssues.ml
+++ b/infer/src/al/ALIssues.ml
@@ -503,8 +503,7 @@ let log_frontend_issue method_decl_opt (node : Ctl_parser_types.ast_node) (issue
         CAst_utils.generate_key_stmt st
   in
   let node_key = Procdesc.NodeKey.of_frontend_node_key key_str in
-  Reporting.log_frontend_issue issue_desc.severity errlog exn ~loc:issue_desc.loc ~ltr:trace
-    ~node_key
+  Reporting.log_frontend_issue errlog exn ~loc:issue_desc.loc ~ltr:trace ~node_key
 
 
 let fill_issue_desc_info_and_log context ~witness ~current_node (issue_desc : CIssue.t) loc =
diff --git a/infer/src/backend/ondemand.ml b/infer/src/backend/ondemand.ml
index 126cd1f33..4ebcc803d 100644
--- a/infer/src/backend/ondemand.ml
+++ b/infer/src/backend/ondemand.ml
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ let run_proc_analysis ~caller_pdesc callee_pdesc =
     summary
   in
   let log_error_and_continue exn (summary : Summary.t) kind =
-    BiabductionReporting.log_error_using_state (Summary.get_proc_desc summary)
+    BiabductionReporting.log_issue_using_state (Summary.get_proc_desc summary)
       (Summary.get_err_log summary) exn ;
     let stats = Summary.Stats.update summary.stats ~failure_kind:kind in
     let payloads =
diff --git a/infer/src/base/IssueType.mli b/infer/src/base/IssueType.mli
index 11fdb0370..24e395d64 100644
--- a/infer/src/base/IssueType.mli
+++ b/infer/src/base/IssueType.mli
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ type t = private
   ; checker: Checker.t
   ; visibility: visibility
   ; mutable default_severity: severity
+        (** used for documentation but can be overriden at report time *)
   ; mutable enabled: bool
   ; mutable hum: string
   ; mutable doc_url: string option
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/Abs.ml b/infer/src/biabduction/Abs.ml
index 11e415fd9..13f82593f 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/Abs.ml
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/Abs.ml
@@ -1142,7 +1142,7 @@ let check_junk {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} prop =
             let report_leak () =
               if not report_and_continue then raise exn
               else (
-                BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Error exn ;
+                BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn ;
                 leaks_reported := alloc_attribute :: !leaks_reported )
             in
             if not ignore_leak then report_leak () ;
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/BiabductionReporting.ml b/infer/src/biabduction/BiabductionReporting.ml
index b580471f5..e0c07f3ce 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/BiabductionReporting.ml
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/BiabductionReporting.ml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 open! IStd
 
-let log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log severity ?node ?loc ?ltr exn =
+let log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log ?node ?loc ?ltr exn =
   if !BiabductionConfig.footprint then
     let node =
       let node = match node with None -> AnalysisState.get_node_exn () | Some node -> node in
@@ -16,11 +16,10 @@ let log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log severity ?node ?loc ?ltr
     let session = AnalysisState.get_session () in
     let loc = match loc with None -> AnalysisState.get_loc_exn () | Some loc -> loc in
     let ltr = match ltr with None -> State.get_loc_trace () | Some ltr -> ltr in
-    Reporting.log_issue_from_summary severity proc_desc err_log ~node ~session ~loc ~ltr Biabduction
-      exn
+    Reporting.log_issue_from_summary proc_desc err_log ~node ~session ~loc ~ltr Biabduction exn
 
 
-let log_error_using_state proc_desc err_log exn =
+let log_issue_using_state proc_desc err_log exn =
   if !BiabductionConfig.footprint then
     let node' =
       match AnalysisState.get_node () with Some n -> n | None -> Procdesc.get_start_node proc_desc
@@ -31,5 +30,4 @@ let log_error_using_state proc_desc err_log exn =
       match AnalysisState.get_loc () with Some l -> l | None -> Procdesc.Node.get_loc node'
     in
     let ltr = State.get_loc_trace () in
-    Reporting.log_issue_from_summary Error proc_desc err_log ~node ~session ~loc ~ltr Biabduction
-      exn
+    Reporting.log_issue_from_summary proc_desc err_log ~node ~session ~loc ~ltr Biabduction exn
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/BiabductionReporting.mli b/infer/src/biabduction/BiabductionReporting.mli
index bdf937c25..2306d2a51 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/BiabductionReporting.mli
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/BiabductionReporting.mli
@@ -7,13 +7,12 @@
 
 open! IStd
 
-val log_error_using_state : Procdesc.t -> Errlog.t -> exn -> unit
-(** Add an error to the given summary using biabduction state. *)
+val log_issue_using_state : Procdesc.t -> Errlog.t -> exn -> unit
+(** Add an issue to the given summary using biabduction state. *)
 
 val log_issue_deprecated_using_state :
      Procdesc.t
   -> Errlog.t
-  -> IssueType.severity
   -> ?node:Procdesc.Node.t
   -> ?loc:Location.t
   -> ?ltr:Errlog.loc_trace
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/Prover.ml b/infer/src/biabduction/Prover.ml
index b23d06797..563ea6806 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/Prover.ml
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/Prover.ml
@@ -2507,7 +2507,7 @@ let check_implication_base {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} ch
       L.d_printfln "WARNING: footprint failed to find MISSING because: %s" s ;
       None
   | Exceptions.Abduction_case_not_implemented _ as exn ->
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Error exn ;
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn ;
       None
 
 
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/Rearrange.ml b/infer/src/biabduction/Rearrange.ml
index 5a5c0041d..1426cab88 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/Rearrange.ml
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/Rearrange.ml
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ let check_bad_index {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} pname p l
         Exceptions.Array_out_of_bounds_l1
           (Errdesc.explain_array_access pname tenv deref_str p loc, __POS__)
       in
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning exn
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn
     else if len_is_constant then
       let deref_str = Localise.deref_str_array_bound len_const_opt index_const_opt in
       let desc = Errdesc.explain_array_access pname tenv deref_str p loc in
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ let check_bad_index {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} pname p l
         if index_has_bounds () then Exceptions.Array_out_of_bounds_l2 (desc, __POS__)
         else Exceptions.Array_out_of_bounds_l3 (desc, __POS__)
       in
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning exn
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn
 
 
 (** Perform bounds checking *)
@@ -1014,7 +1014,7 @@ let check_type_size {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} pname pro
           Exceptions.Pointer_size_mismatch
             (Errdesc.explain_dereference pname tenv deref_str prop loc, __POS__)
         in
-        BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning exn
+        BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn
   | None ->
       L.d_str "texp: " ;
       Exp.d_texp_full texp ;
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/RetainCycles.ml b/infer/src/biabduction/RetainCycles.ml
index b527c161f..403f070fa 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/RetainCycles.ml
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/RetainCycles.ml
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ let report_cycle {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; tenv; err_log} prop =
     RetainCyclesType.Set.iter
       (fun cycle ->
         let exn = exn_retain_cycle tenv cycle in
-        BiabductionReporting.log_error_using_state proc_desc err_log exn )
+        BiabductionReporting.log_issue_using_state proc_desc err_log exn )
       cycles ;
     (* we report the retain cycles above but need to raise an exception as well to stop the analysis *)
     raise (Exceptions.Analysis_stops (Localise.verbatim_desc "retain cycle found", Some __POS__)) )
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/SymExec.ml b/infer/src/biabduction/SymExec.ml
index 89bca57fa..aeac12083 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/SymExec.ml
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/SymExec.ml
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ let check_inherently_dangerous_function {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_
       Exceptions.Inherently_dangerous_function
         (Localise.desc_inherently_dangerous_function callee_pname)
     in
-    BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning exn
+    BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn
 
 
 let reason_to_skip ~callee_desc : string option =
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ let check_arith_norm_exp {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} exp
           (AnalysisState.get_loc_exn ())
       in
       let exn = Exceptions.Divide_by_zero (desc, __POS__) in
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning exn ;
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn ;
       (Prop.exp_normalize_prop tenv prop exp, prop')
   | Some (Attribute.UminusUnsigned (e, typ)), prop' ->
       let desc =
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ let check_arith_norm_exp {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} exp
           (AnalysisState.get_node_exn ()) (AnalysisState.get_loc_exn ())
       in
       let exn = Exceptions.Unary_minus_applied_to_unsigned_expression (desc, __POS__) in
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning exn ;
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn ;
       (Prop.exp_normalize_prop tenv prop exp, prop')
   | None, prop' ->
       (Prop.exp_normalize_prop tenv prop exp, prop')
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ let check_already_dereferenced {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv
           (AnalysisState.get_node_exn ()) n (AnalysisState.get_loc_exn ())
       in
       let exn = Exceptions.Null_test_after_dereference (desc, __POS__) in
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning exn
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn
   | None ->
       ()
 
@@ -1206,7 +1206,7 @@ let rec sym_exec
       ret_id_typ ret_typ actual_args =
     let skip_res () =
       let exn = Exceptions.Skip_function (Localise.desc_skip_function callee_pname) in
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state current_pdesc err_log Info exn ;
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state current_pdesc err_log exn ;
       L.d_printfln "Skipping function '%a': %s" Procname.pp callee_pname reason ;
       unknown_or_scan_call ~is_scan:false ~reason ret_typ ret_annots
         { Builtin.instr
@@ -1257,8 +1257,7 @@ let rec sym_exec
               let exn =
                 Exceptions.Condition_always_true_false (desc, not (IntLit.iszero i), __POS__)
               in
-              BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state current_pdesc err_log Warning
-                exn
+              BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state current_pdesc err_log exn
           | _ ->
               ()
       in
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/Tabulation.ml b/infer/src/biabduction/Tabulation.ml
index 5dd0d25e3..4dbc7bb95 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/Tabulation.ml
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/Tabulation.ml
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ let check_path_errors_in_post {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc= caller_pdesc;
           in
           State.set_path new_path path_pos_opt ;
           let exn = Exceptions.Divide_by_zero (desc, __POS__) in
-          BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state caller_pdesc err_log Warning exn )
+          BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state caller_pdesc err_log exn )
     | _ ->
         ()
   in
@@ -1132,7 +1132,7 @@ let exe_spec
           missing_sigma_objc_class callee_summary ) ;
       let log_check_exn check =
         let exn = get_check_exn tenv check callee_pname loc __POS__ in
-        BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state caller_pdesc err_log Warning exn
+        BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state caller_pdesc err_log exn
       in
       let do_split () =
         process_splitting actual_pre sub1 sub2 frame missing_pi missing_sigma frame_fld missing_fld
diff --git a/infer/src/biabduction/interproc.ml b/infer/src/biabduction/interproc.ml
index 544e08bae..4b47c8491 100644
--- a/infer/src/biabduction/interproc.ml
+++ b/infer/src/biabduction/interproc.ml
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ let forward_tabulate ({InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv; _} as a
     L.d_strln "SIL INSTR:" ;
     Procdesc.Node.d_instrs ~highlight:(AnalysisState.get_instr ()) curr_node ;
     L.d_ln () ;
-    BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Error exn ;
+    BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn ;
     State.mark_instr_fail exn
   in
   let exe_iter f pathset =
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ let remove_locals_formals_and_check {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log;
       let dexp_opt, _ = Errdesc.vpath_find tenv p (Exp.Lvar pvar) in
       let desc = Errdesc.explain_stack_variable_address_escape loc pvar dexp_opt in
       let exn = Exceptions.Stack_variable_address_escape (desc, __POS__) in
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning exn
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn
   in
   List.iter ~f:check_pvar pvars ;
   p'
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ let perform_analysis_phase ({InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} a
     in
     let get_results (wl : Worklist.t) () =
       State.process_execution_failures
-        (BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Warning) ;
+        (BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log) ;
       let results = collect_analysis_result analysis_data wl proc_cfg in
       let specs =
         try extract_specs analysis_data (ProcCfg.Exceptional.proc_desc proc_cfg) results
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ let perform_analysis_phase ({InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} a
             Exceptions.Internal_error
               (Localise.verbatim_desc "Leak_while_collecting_specs_after_footprint")
           in
-          BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Error exn ;
+          BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn ;
           (* returning no specs *) []
       in
       (specs, BiabductionSummary.FOOTPRINT)
@@ -928,7 +928,7 @@ let report_custom_errors {InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log; tenv} summ
       let loc = Procdesc.get_loc proc_desc in
       let err_desc = Localise.desc_custom_error loc in
       let exn = Exceptions.Custom_error (custom_error, Error, err_desc) in
-      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log Error exn
+      BiabductionReporting.log_issue_deprecated_using_state proc_desc err_log exn
   in
   List.iter ~f:report error_preconditions
 
@@ -1124,5 +1124,5 @@ let analyze_procedure ({InterproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; err_log} as analysis_
   try Some (analyze_procedure_aux analysis_data)
   with exn ->
     IExn.reraise_if exn ~f:(fun () -> not (Exceptions.handle_exception exn)) ;
-    BiabductionReporting.log_error_using_state proc_desc err_log exn ;
+    BiabductionReporting.log_issue_using_state proc_desc err_log exn ;
     None
diff --git a/infer/src/concurrency/RacerD.ml b/infer/src/concurrency/RacerD.ml
index 6188f1cb3..312657460 100644
--- a/infer/src/concurrency/RacerD.ml
+++ b/infer/src/concurrency/RacerD.ml
@@ -640,8 +640,7 @@ let make_trace ~report_kind original_exp =
 
 
 let log_issue current_pname ~issue_log ~loc ~ltr ~access issue_type error_message =
-  Reporting.log_issue_external current_pname Warning ~issue_log ~loc ~ltr ~access issue_type
-    error_message
+  Reporting.log_issue_external current_pname ~issue_log ~loc ~ltr ~access issue_type error_message
 
 
 type reported_access =
diff --git a/infer/src/concurrency/starvation.ml b/infer/src/concurrency/starvation.ml
index a24f120c6..6eb7c47af 100644
--- a/infer/src/concurrency/starvation.ml
+++ b/infer/src/concurrency/starvation.ml
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ end = struct
   let issue_log_of loc_map =
     let log_report ~issue_log loc {problem; pname; ltr; message} =
       let issue_type = issue_type_of_problem problem in
-      Reporting.log_issue_external ~issue_log pname Error ~loc ~ltr Starvation issue_type message
+      Reporting.log_issue_external ~issue_log pname ~loc ~ltr Starvation issue_type message
     in
     let mk_deduped_report ({message} as report) =
       { report with
diff --git a/infer/src/nullsafe/ClassLevelAnalysis.ml b/infer/src/nullsafe/ClassLevelAnalysis.ml
index 3dc600045..2f8d7ee96 100644
--- a/infer/src/nullsafe/ClassLevelAnalysis.ml
+++ b/infer/src/nullsafe/ClassLevelAnalysis.ml
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ let log_issue ?proc_name ~issue_log ~loc ~severity ~nullsafe_extra issue_type er
   in
   let proc_name = Option.value proc_name ~default:Procname.Linters_dummy_method in
   let trace = [Errlog.make_trace_element 0 loc error_message []] in
-  Reporting.log_issue_external proc_name severity ~issue_log ~loc ~extras ~ltr:trace Eradicate
-    issue_type error_message
+  Reporting.log_issue_external proc_name ~severity_override:severity ~issue_log ~loc ~extras
+    ~ltr:trace Eradicate issue_type error_message
 
 
 (* If the issue is related to violation of nullability type system rules *)
diff --git a/infer/src/nullsafe/EradicateReporting.ml b/infer/src/nullsafe/EradicateReporting.ml
index ec35706b9..9693d6ec0 100644
--- a/infer/src/nullsafe/EradicateReporting.ml
+++ b/infer/src/nullsafe/EradicateReporting.ml
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@ let report_error {IntraproceduralAnalysis.proc_desc; tenv; err_log} checker kind
     let trace = [Errlog.make_trace_element 0 loc description []] in
     let node = AnalysisState.get_node_exn () in
     let session = AnalysisState.get_session () in
-    Reporting.log_issue_from_summary severity proc_desc err_log
+    Reporting.log_issue_from_summary ~severity_override:severity proc_desc err_log
       ~node:(BackendNode {node})
       ~session ~loc ~ltr:trace checker exn