diff --git a/src/server/distrend.c b/src/server/distrend.c
--- a/src/server/distrend.c
+++ b/src/server/distrend.c
@@ -797,8 +797,11 @@ int restore_distrenjob(struct general_in
     return tmp;
 
   tmp = distrenjob_unserialize(distrenjob, file_name);
+  if(tmp)
+    fprintf(stderr, "failed to load job %d from ``%s''\n",
+	    jobnum, file_name);
+  
   free(file_name);
-  
   return tmp;
 }