diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index c9c27d826239..51cc9201cbf4 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ func (n *Node) Start() error {
 			service.Stop()
 		}
 		running.Stop()
+		n.log.Error("Aborting startup", "error", err)
 		return err
 	}
 	// Finish initializing the startup