diff --git a/scm-core/src/main/java/sonia/scm/BasicContextProvider.java b/scm-core/src/main/java/sonia/scm/BasicContextProvider.java
index 3a40cf3f2d..14efefbadc 100644
--- a/scm-core/src/main/java/sonia/scm/BasicContextProvider.java
+++ b/scm-core/src/main/java/sonia/scm/BasicContextProvider.java
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ public class BasicContextProvider implements SCMContextProvider
     catch (Throwable ex)
     {
       this.startupError = ex;
+
+      // print exception to system err
+      ex.printStackTrace(System.err);
     }
   }