diff --git a/relp_handler.go b/relp_handler.go
index d1dbebd..0ea20d2 100644
--- a/relp_handler.go
+++ b/relp_handler.go
@@ -58,13 +58,17 @@ func NewRELPHandler(relpURL string) (*RELPHandler, error) {
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(cacheDir, 0755); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to create cache directory: %v", err)
 	}
-	return &RELPHandler{
+	r := &RELPHandler{
 		relpServerURL: parsedURL.Host,
 		ch:            make(chan Event, diskBufferLimit),
 		done:          make(chan struct{}),
 		failedCh:      make(chan Event, diskBufferLimit),
 		timer:         time.NewTimer(diskWriteInterval),
-	}, nil
+	}
+	if relpDebug {
+		log.Printf("Created new RELP handler for server at %s", r.relpServerURL)
+	}
+	return r, nil
 }
 
 func (r *RELPHandler) connectToRELPServer() (net.Conn, error) {
@@ -86,6 +90,13 @@ func (r *RELPHandler) connectToRELPServer() (net.Conn, error) {
 		}
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	conn, err := net.Dial("tcp", net.JoinHostPort(host, port))
+	if err != nil {
+		if relpDebug {
+			log.Printf("Failed to connect to RELP server at %s: %v", net.JoinHostPort(host, port), err)
+		}
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	if relpDebug {
 		log.Printf("Successfully connected to RELP server at %s", net.JoinHostPort(host, port))
 	}