diff --git a/Greenshot/log4net-debug.xml b/Greenshot/log4net-debug.xml
index b6d79a668..554edbeb3 100644
--- a/Greenshot/log4net-debug.xml
+++ b/Greenshot/log4net-debug.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 			<file type="log4net.Util.PatternString">
 				<converter>
 					<name value="folder" />
-    				<type value="Greenshot.Helpers.SpecialFolderPatternConverter" />
+    				<type value="GreenshotPlugin.Core.SpecialFolderPatternConverter" />
   				</converter>
 				<conversionPattern value="%folder{LocalApplicationData}\Greenshot\Greenshot.log" />
 			</file>
diff --git a/Greenshot/log4net.xml b/Greenshot/log4net.xml
index b0c2a57b2..364756dbf 100644
--- a/Greenshot/log4net.xml
+++ b/Greenshot/log4net.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 			<file type="log4net.Util.PatternString">
 				<converter>
 					<name value="folder" />
-    				<type value="Greenshot.Helpers.SpecialFolderPatternConverter" />
+    				<type value="GreenshotPlugin.Core.SpecialFolderPatternConverter" />
   				</converter>
 				<conversionPattern value="%folder{LocalApplicationData}\Greenshot\Greenshot.log" />
 			</file>
diff --git a/GreenshotPlugin/Core/LogHelper.cs b/GreenshotPlugin/Core/LogHelper.cs
index 498875ea8..fec9385e2 100644
--- a/GreenshotPlugin/Core/LogHelper.cs
+++ b/GreenshotPlugin/Core/LogHelper.cs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ using log4net;
 using log4net.Appender;
 using log4net.Config;
 using log4net.Repository.Hierarchy;
+using System;
 
 namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 	/// <summary>
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 	public class LogHelper {
 		private const string LOG4NET_FILE = "log4net.xml";
 		private static bool isLog4NetConfigured = false;
-
+		private const string INIT_MESSAGE = "Greenshot initialization of log system failed";
 		public static bool isInitialized {
 			get {
 				return isLog4NetConfigured;
@@ -52,12 +53,16 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 				try {
 					XmlConfigurator.Configure(new FileInfo(log4netFilename)); 
 					isLog4NetConfigured = true;
-				} catch {}
+				} catch (Exception ex) {
+					MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, INIT_MESSAGE, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Warning);
+				}
 			} else if (File.Exists(pafLog4NetFilename)) {
 				try {
 					XmlConfigurator.Configure(new FileInfo(pafLog4NetFilename)); 
 					isLog4NetConfigured = true;
-				} catch { }
+				} catch (Exception ex) {
+					MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, INIT_MESSAGE, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Warning);
+				}
 			}
 
 			if (!isLog4NetConfigured) {
@@ -68,7 +73,9 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 						isLog4NetConfigured = true;
 						IniConfig.ForceIniInStartupPath();
 					}
-				} catch {}
+				} catch (Exception ex){
+					MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, INIT_MESSAGE, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Warning);
+				}
 			}
 
 			if (isLog4NetConfigured) {
@@ -86,4 +93,14 @@ namespace GreenshotPlugin.Core {
 			return null;
 		}
 	}
+
+	/// <summary>
+	/// A simple helper class to support the logging to the AppData location
+	/// </summary>
+	public class SpecialFolderPatternConverter : log4net.Util.PatternConverter {
+		override protected void Convert(System.IO.TextWriter writer, object state) {
+			Environment.SpecialFolder specialFolder = (Environment.SpecialFolder)Enum.Parse(typeof(Environment.SpecialFolder), base.Option, true);
+			writer.Write(Environment.GetFolderPath(specialFolder));
+		}
+	}
 }