diff --git a/support/aphlict/server/aphlict_server.js b/support/aphlict/server/aphlict_server.js
--- a/support/aphlict/server/aphlict_server.js
+++ b/support/aphlict/server/aphlict_server.js
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@
   set_exit_code(1);
 });
 
+// Add the logfile so we'll fail if we can't write to it.
+if (config.log) {
+  debug.addLog(config.log);
+}
+
 try {
   require('ws');
 } catch (ex) {
@@ -96,11 +101,6 @@
   ssl_config.cert = fs.readFileSync(config['ssl-cert']);
 }
 
-// Add the logfile so we'll fail if we can't write to it.
-if (config.log) {
-  debug.addLog(config.log);
-}
-
 // If we're just doing a configuration test, exit here before starting any
 // servers.
 if (config.test) {