diff --git a/IkiWiki.pm b/IkiWiki.pm
index daa71059b..fd7e23524 100644
--- a/IkiWiki.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki.pm
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use vars qw{%config %links %oldlinks %pagemtime %pagectime %pagecase
 	    %forcerebuild %loaded_plugins};
 
 use Exporter q{import};
-our @EXPORT = qw(hook debug error template htmlpage deptype use_pagespec
+our @EXPORT = qw(hook debug error template htmlpage deptype
                  add_depends pagespec_match pagespec_match_list bestlink
 		 htmllink readfile writefile pagetype srcfile pagename
 		 displaytime will_render gettext urlto targetpage
@@ -1798,91 +1798,6 @@ sub add_depends ($$;$) {
 	return 1;
 }
 
-sub use_pagespec ($$;@) {
-	my $page=shift;
-	my $pagespec=shift;
-	my %params=@_;
-
-	my $sub=pagespec_translate($pagespec);
-	error "syntax error in pagespec \"$pagespec\""
-		if $@ || ! defined $sub;
-
-	my @candidates;
-	if (exists $params{limit}) {
-		@candidates=grep { $params{limit}->($_) } keys %pagesources;
-	}
-	else {
-		@candidates=keys %pagesources;
-	}
-
-	if (defined $params{sort}) {
-		my $f;
-		if ($params{sort} eq 'title') {
-			$f=sub { pagetitle(basename($a)) cmp pagetitle(basename($b)) };
-		}
-		elsif ($params{sort} eq 'title_natural') {
-			eval q{use Sort::Naturally};
-			if ($@) {
-				error(gettext("Sort::Naturally needed for title_natural sort"));
-			}
-			$f=sub { Sort::Naturally::ncmp(pagetitle(basename($a)), pagetitle(basename($b))) };
-                }
-		elsif ($params{sort} eq 'mtime') {
-			$f=sub { $pagemtime{$b} <=> $pagemtime{$a} };
-		}
-		elsif ($params{sort} eq 'age') {
-			$f=sub { $pagectime{$b} <=> $pagectime{$a} };
-		}
-		else {
-			error sprintf(gettext("unknown sort type %s"), $params{sort});
-		}
-		@candidates = sort { &$f } @candidates;
-	}
-
-	@candidates=reverse(@candidates) if $params{reverse};
-	
-	my @matches;
-	my $firstfail;
-	my $count=0;
-	foreach my $p (@candidates) {
-		my $r=$sub->($p, location => $page);
-		if ($r) {
-			push @matches, [$p, $r];
-			last if defined $params{num} && ++$count == $params{num};
-		}
-		elsif (! defined $firstfail) {
-			$firstfail=$r;
-		}
-	}
-	
-	$depends{$page}{$pagespec} |= ($params{deptype} || $DEPEND_CONTENT);
-
-	my @ret;
-	if (@matches) {
-		# Add all influences from successful matches.
-		foreach my $m (@matches) {
-			push @ret, $m->[0];
-			my %i=$m->[1]->influences;
-			foreach my $i (keys %i) {
-				$depends_simple{$page}{lc $i} |= $i{$i};
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	elsif (defined $firstfail) {
-		# Add influences from one failure. (Which one should not
-		# matter; all should have the same influences.)
-		my %i=$firstfail->influences;
-		foreach my $i (keys %i) {
-			$depends_simple{$page}{lc $i} |= $i{$i};
-		}
-
-		error(sprintf(gettext("cannot match pages: %s"), $firstfail))
-			if $firstfail->isa("IkiWiki::ErrorReason");
-	}
-
-	return @ret;
-}
-
 sub deptype (@) {
 	my $deptype=0;
 	foreach my $type (@_) {
@@ -2055,27 +1970,95 @@ sub pagespec_match ($$;@) {
 }
 
 sub pagespec_match_list ($$;@) {
-	my $pages=shift;
-	my $spec=shift;
-	my @params=@_;
+	my $page=shift;
+	my $pagespec=shift;
+	my %params=@_;
 
-	my $sub=pagespec_translate($spec);
-	error "syntax error in pagespec \"$spec\""
-		if $@ || ! defined $sub;
-	
-	my @ret;
-	my $r;
-	foreach my $page (@$pages) {
-		$r=$sub->($page, @params);
-		push @ret, $page if $r;
+	# Backwards compatability with old calling convention.
+	if (ref $page) {
+		print STDERR "warning: a plugin (".caller().") is using pagespec_match_list in an obsolete way, and needs to be updated\n";
+		$params{list}=$page;
+		$page=$params{location}; # ugh!
 	}
 
-	if (! @ret && defined $r && $r->isa("IkiWiki::ErrorReason")) {
-		error(sprintf(gettext("cannot match pages: %s"), $r));
+	my $sub=pagespec_translate($pagespec);
+	error "syntax error in pagespec \"$pagespec\""
+		if $@ || ! defined $sub;
+
+	my @candidates;
+	if (exists $params{limit}) {
+		@candidates=grep { $params{limit}->($_) } keys %pagesources;
 	}
 	else {
-		return @ret;
+		@candidates=keys %pagesources;
 	}
+
+	if (defined $params{sort}) {
+		my $f;
+		if ($params{sort} eq 'title') {
+			$f=sub { pagetitle(basename($a)) cmp pagetitle(basename($b)) };
+		}
+		elsif ($params{sort} eq 'title_natural') {
+			eval q{use Sort::Naturally};
+			if ($@) {
+				error(gettext("Sort::Naturally needed for title_natural sort"));
+			}
+			$f=sub { Sort::Naturally::ncmp(pagetitle(basename($a)), pagetitle(basename($b))) };
+                }
+		elsif ($params{sort} eq 'mtime') {
+			$f=sub { $pagemtime{$b} <=> $pagemtime{$a} };
+		}
+		elsif ($params{sort} eq 'age') {
+			$f=sub { $pagectime{$b} <=> $pagectime{$a} };
+		}
+		else {
+			error sprintf(gettext("unknown sort type %s"), $params{sort});
+		}
+		@candidates = sort { &$f } @candidates;
+	}
+
+	@candidates=reverse(@candidates) if $params{reverse};
+	
+	my @matches;
+	my $firstfail;
+	my $count=0;
+	foreach my $p (@candidates) {
+		my $r=$sub->($p, location => $page);
+		if ($r) {
+			push @matches, [$p, $r];
+			last if defined $params{num} && ++$count == $params{num};
+		}
+		elsif (! defined $firstfail) {
+			$firstfail=$r;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	$depends{$page}{$pagespec} |= ($params{deptype} || $DEPEND_CONTENT);
+
+	my @ret;
+	if (@matches) {
+		# Add all influences from successful matches.
+		foreach my $m (@matches) {
+			push @ret, $m->[0];
+			my %i=$m->[1]->influences;
+			foreach my $i (keys %i) {
+				$depends_simple{$page}{lc $i} |= $i{$i};
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	elsif (defined $firstfail) {
+		# Add influences from one failure. (Which one should not
+		# matter; all should have the same influences.)
+		my %i=$firstfail->influences;
+		foreach my $i (keys %i) {
+			$depends_simple{$page}{lc $i} |= $i{$i};
+		}
+
+		error(sprintf(gettext("cannot match pages: %s"), $firstfail))
+			if $firstfail->isa("IkiWiki::ErrorReason");
+	}
+
+	return @ret;
 }
 
 sub pagespec_valid ($) {
diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/calendar.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/calendar.pm
index a89175cfb..c50d038df 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/calendar.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/calendar.pm
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ sub format_month (@) {
 	my $nyear    = $params{nyear};
 
 	my %linkcache;
-	foreach my $p (use_pagespec($params{page}, $params{pagespec},
+	foreach my $p (pagespec_match_list($params{page}, $params{pagespec},
 				# add presence dependencies to update
 				# month calendar when pages are added/removed
 				deptype => deptype("presence"))) {
diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/inline.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/inline.pm
index c02137aed..815a37838 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/inline.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/inline.pm
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ sub preprocess_inline (@) {
 			$num+=$params{skip};
 		}
 
-		@list = use_pagespec($params{page}, $params{pages},
+		@list = pagespec_match_list($params{page}, $params{pages},
 			deptype => deptype($quick ? "presence" : "content"),
 			limit => sub { $_[0] ne $params{page} },
 			sort => exists $params{sort} ? $params{sort} : "age",
@@ -245,9 +245,11 @@ sub preprocess_inline (@) {
 	}
 
 	if ($feeds && exists $params{feedpages}) {
-		@feedlist = use_pagespec($params{page}, "($params{pages}) and ($params{feedpages})",
+		@feedlist = pagespec_match_list(
+			$params{page}, "($params{pages}) and ($params{feedpages})",
 			deptype => deptype($quick ? "presence" : "content"),
-			list => \@feedlist);
+			list => \@feedlist,
+		);
 	}
 
 	my ($feedbase, $feednum);
diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/map.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/map.pm
index 634b0e4d6..788b96827 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/map.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/map.pm
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ sub preprocess (@) {
 
 	# Get all the items to map.
 	my %mapitems;
-	foreach my $page (use_pagespec($params{page}, $params{pages}, deptype => $deptype)) {
+	foreach my $page (pagespec_match_list($params{page}, $params{pages},
+					deptype => $deptype)) {
 		if (exists $params{show} && 
 		    exists $pagestate{$page} &&
 		    exists $pagestate{$page}{meta}{$params{show}}) {
diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/orphans.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/orphans.pm
index 607239500..b1ebd1b9d 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/orphans.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/orphans.pm
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ sub preprocess (@) {
 	# considering as orphans.
 	add_depends($params{page}, "*", deptype("links"));
 	
-	my @orphans=use_pagespec($params{page}, $params{pages},
+	my @orphans=pagespec_match_list($params{page}, $params{pages},
 		# update when orphans are added/removed
 		deptype => deptype("presence"),
 		limit => sub {
diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/pagecount.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/pagecount.pm
index 40474b2a1..8d36f057e 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/pagecount.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/pagecount.pm
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ sub preprocess (@) {
 		return scalar keys %pagesources;
 	}
 
-	return scalar use_pagespec($params{page}, $pages,
+	return scalar pagespec_match_list($params{page}, $pages,
 		deptype => deptype("presence"));
 }
 
diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/pagestats.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/pagestats.pm
index e64f7d9c3..47638210a 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/pagestats.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/pagestats.pm
@@ -37,16 +37,17 @@ sub preprocess (@) {
 	
 	my %counts;
 	my $max = 0;
-	foreach my $page (use_pagespec($params{page}, $params{pages},
-	                  # update when a displayed page is added or removed
-	                  deptype => deptype("presence"))) {
+	foreach my $page (pagespec_match_list($params{page}, $params{pages},
+		                  # update when a displayed page is added/removed
+	        	          deptype => deptype("presence"))) {
 		use IkiWiki::Render;
 
 		my @backlinks = IkiWiki::backlink_pages($page);
 
 		if (exists $params{among}) {
 			# only consider backlinks from the amoung pages
-			@backlinks = use_pagespec($params{page}, $params{among},
+			@backlinks = pagespec_match_list(
+				$params{page}, $params{among},
 				# update whenever links on those pages change
 				deptype => deptype("links"),
 				list => \@backlinks
diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/postsparkline.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/postsparkline.pm
index f51e309c8..1d4532366 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/postsparkline.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/postsparkline.pm
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ sub preprocess (@) {
 	}
 
 	my @list=sort { $params{timehash}->{$b} <=> $params{timehash}->{$a} } 
-		use_pagespec($params{page}, $params{pages},
+		pagespec_match_list($params{page}, $params{pages},
 			deptype => $deptype,
 			limit => sub { $_[0] ne $params{page} },
 		);
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 3a6fdf77d..49809e6cf 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ ikiwiki (3.14159266) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
     info.
   * Plugins providing PageSpec `match_*` functions should pass additional
     influence information when creating result objects.
-  * Added `use_pagespec` function, that plugins can use to find a list
-    of matching pages and add dependencies and influences, all at once,
-    and efficiently.
+  * API change: `pagespec_match_list` has completly changed its interface.
+    The old interface will be removed soon, and a warning will be printed
+    if any plugins try to use it.
   * Optimize away most expensive file prune calls, when refreshing,
     by only checking new files.
 
diff --git a/doc/plugins/write.mdwn b/doc/plugins/write.mdwn
index 62bebbeed..f6ea76c36 100644
--- a/doc/plugins/write.mdwn
+++ b/doc/plugins/write.mdwn
@@ -625,16 +625,16 @@ dependency type from one or more of these keywords:
 
 If multiple types are specified, they are combined.
 
-#### `use_pagespec($$;@)`
+#### `pagespec_match_list($$;@)`
 
 Passed a page name, and [[ikiwiki/PageSpec]], returns a list of pages
 in the wiki that match the [[ikiwiki/PageSpec]]. 
 
 The page will automatically be made to depend on the specified
 [[ikiwiki/PageSpec]], so `add_depends` does not need to be called. This
-is significantly more efficient than calling `add_depends`
-followed by `pagespec_match_list`. You should use this anytime a plugin
-needs to match a set of pages and generate something based on that list.
+is significantly more efficient than calling `add_depends` and
+`pagespec_match` in a loop. You should use this anytime a plugin
+needs to match a set of pages and do something based on that list.
 
 Additional named parameters can be specified:
 
@@ -650,6 +650,9 @@ Additional named parameters can be specified:
 * `list` makes it only match amoung the specified list of pages.
   Default is to match amoung all pages in the wiki.
 
+Unlike pagespec_match, this may throw an error if there is an error in
+the pagespec.
+
 #### `add_depends($$;$)`
 
 Makes the specified page depend on the specified [[ikiwiki/PageSpec]].
@@ -672,19 +675,6 @@ The most often used is "location", which specifies the location the
 PageSpec should match against. If not passed, relative PageSpecs will match
 relative to the top of the wiki.
 
-#### `pagespec_match_list($$;@)`
-
-Passed a reference to a list of page names, and [[ikiwiki/PageSpec]],
-returns the set of pages that match the [[ikiwiki/PageSpec]].
-
-Additional named parameters can be passed, to further limit the match.
-The most often used is "location", which specifies the location the
-PageSpec should match against. If not passed, relative PageSpecs will match
-relative to the top of the wiki.
-
-Unlike pagespec_match, this may throw an error if there is an error in
-the pagespec.
-
 #### `bestlink($$)`
 
 Given a page and the text of a link on the page, determine which
diff --git a/t/pagespec_match_list.t b/t/pagespec_match_list.t
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..85a30b542
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/pagespec_match_list.t
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/perl
+use warnings;
+use strict;
+use Test::More tests => 10;
+
+BEGIN { use_ok("IkiWiki"); }
+
+%pagesources=(
+	foo => "foo.mdwn",
+	bar => "bar.mdwn",
+	"post/1" => "post/1.mdwn",
+	"post/2" => "post/2.mdwn",
+	"post/3" => "post/3.mdwn",
+);
+
+is_deeply([pagespec_match_list("foo", "bar")], ["bar"]);
+is_deeply([sort(pagespec_match_list("foo", "post/*"))], ["post/1", "post/2", "post/3"]);
+is_deeply([pagespec_match_list("foo", "post/*", sort => "title", reverse => 1)],
+	["post/3", "post/2", "post/1"]);
+is_deeply([pagespec_match_list("foo", "post/*", sort => "title", num => 2)],
+	["post/1", "post/2"]);
+is_deeply([pagespec_match_list("foo", "post/*", sort => "title", num => 50)],
+	["post/1", "post/2", "post/3"]);
+is_deeply([pagespec_match_list("foo", "post/*", sort => "title",
+                         limit => sub { $_[0] !~ /3/}) ],
+	["post/1", "post/2"]);
+my $r=eval { pagespec_match_list("foo", "beep") };
+ok(eval { pagespec_match_list("foo", "beep") } == 0);
+ok(! $@, "does not fail with error when unable to match anything");
+eval { pagespec_match_list("foo", "this is not a legal pagespec!") };
+ok($@, "fails with error when pagespec bad");
diff --git a/t/use_pagespec.t b/t/use_pagespec.t
deleted file mode 100755
index 92d7977cf..000000000
--- a/t/use_pagespec.t
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/perl
-use warnings;
-use strict;
-use Test::More tests => 10;
-
-BEGIN { use_ok("IkiWiki"); }
-
-%pagesources=(
-	foo => "foo.mdwn",
-	bar => "bar.mdwn",
-	"post/1" => "post/1.mdwn",
-	"post/2" => "post/2.mdwn",
-	"post/3" => "post/3.mdwn",
-);
-
-is_deeply([use_pagespec("foo", "bar")], ["bar"]);
-is_deeply([sort(use_pagespec("foo", "post/*"))], ["post/1", "post/2", "post/3"]);
-is_deeply([use_pagespec("foo", "post/*", sort => "title", reverse => 1)],
-	["post/3", "post/2", "post/1"]);
-is_deeply([use_pagespec("foo", "post/*", sort => "title", num => 2)],
-	["post/1", "post/2"]);
-is_deeply([use_pagespec("foo", "post/*", sort => "title", num => 50)],
-	["post/1", "post/2", "post/3"]);
-is_deeply([use_pagespec("foo", "post/*", sort => "title",
-                         limit => sub { $_[0] !~ /3/}) ],
-	["post/1", "post/2"]);
-my $r=eval { use_pagespec("foo", "beep") };
-ok(eval { use_pagespec("foo", "beep") } == 0);
-ok(! $@, "does not fail with error when unable to match anything");
-eval { use_pagespec("foo", "this is not a legal pagespec!") };
-ok($@, "fails with error when pagespec bad");