diff --git a/artiq/runtime/session.c b/artiq/runtime/session.c
index a76a51687..5fa39f8cd 100644
--- a/artiq/runtime/session.c
+++ b/artiq/runtime/session.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ void session_startup_kernel(void)
     if(!kloader_start_startup_kernel())
         return;
 
+    log("Startup kernel started");
     while(1) {
         kloader_service_essential_kmsg();