diff --git a/mayan/apps/converter/runtime.py b/mayan/apps/converter/runtime.py
index 2d202a71d9..f29227d5c8 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/converter/runtime.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/converter/runtime.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+import logging
 
 from common.utils import load_backend
 
@@ -6,9 +8,16 @@ from .exceptions import OfficeBackendError
 from .office_converter import OfficeConverter
 from .settings import GRAPHICS_BACKEND
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+logger.debug('initializing office backend')
 try:
     office_converter = OfficeConverter()
-except OfficeBackendError:
+except OfficeBackendError as exception:
+    logger.error('error initializing office backend; %s', exception)
     office_converter = None
+else:
+    logger.debug('office_backend initialized')
+
 
 backend = load_backend(GRAPHICS_BACKEND)()