diff --git a/src/logger.c b/src/logger.c
index 56af880c..53cd72be 100644
--- a/src/logger.c
+++ b/src/logger.c
@@ -73,11 +73,56 @@ static struct log_struct log_table[LAST_LOGFILE] =
 	{ &ConfigFileEntry.fname_ioerrorlog,	&log_ioerror	}
 };
 
+static void
+verify_logfile_access(const char *filename)
+{
+	char *dirname, *d;
+	char buf[512];
+	d = rb_dirname(filename);
+	dirname = LOCAL_COPY(d);
+	rb_free(d);
+	
+	if(access(dirname, F_OK) == -1)
+	{
+		rb_snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "WARNING: Unable to access logfile %s - parent directory %s does not exist", filename, dirname);
+		if(testing_conf || server_state_foreground)
+			fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", buf);
+		sendto_realops_snomask(SNO_GENERAL, L_ALL, "%s", buf);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if(access(filename, F_OK) == -1)
+	{
+		if(access(dirname, W_OK) == -1)
+		{
+			rb_snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "WARNING: Unable to access logfile %s - access to parent directory %s failed: %s", 
+				    filename, dirname, strerror(errno));
+			if(testing_conf || server_state_foreground)
+				fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", buf);
+			sendto_realops_snomask(SNO_GENERAL, L_ALL, "%s", buf);
+		}
+		return;
+	}
+	
+	if(access(filename, W_OK) == -1)
+	{
+		rb_snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "WARNING: Access denied for logfile %s: %s", filename, strerror(errno));
+		if(testing_conf || server_state_foreground)
+			fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", buf);	
+		sendto_realops_snomask(SNO_GENERAL, L_ALL, "%s", buf);
+		return;
+	}
+	return;
+}
+
 void
 init_main_logfile(void)
 {
+	verify_logfile_access(logFileName);
 	if(log_main == NULL)
+	{
 		log_main = fopen(logFileName, "a");
+	}
 }
 
 void
@@ -94,7 +139,10 @@ open_logfiles(void)
 	{
 		/* reopen those with paths */
 		if(!EmptyString(*log_table[i].name))
+		{
+			verify_logfile_access(*log_table[i].name);
 			*log_table[i].logfile = fopen(*log_table[i].name, "a");
+		}
 	}
 }