diff --git a/cmd/cgr-rater/cgr-rater.go b/cmd/cgr-rater/cgr-rater.go
index cd3542dbb..678637c62 100644
--- a/cmd/cgr-rater/cgr-rater.go
+++ b/cmd/cgr-rater/cgr-rater.go
@@ -128,6 +128,11 @@ func readConfig(configFn string) {
 
 func listenToRPCRequests(rpcResponder interface{}, rpcAddress string, rpc_encoding string) {
 	l, err := net.Listen("tcp", rpcAddress)
+	if err != nil {
+		timespans.Logger.Err(fmt.Sprintf("could not connect to %v: %v", rpcAddress, err))
+		exitChan <- true
+		return
+	}
 	defer l.Close()
 
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/cgr-rater/registration.go b/cmd/cgr-rater/registration.go
index b380f634d..4b1a89f7e 100644
--- a/cmd/cgr-rater/registration.go
+++ b/cmd/cgr-rater/registration.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ Connects to the balancer and rehisters the rater to the server.
 func registerToBalancer() {
 	client, err := rpc.Dial("tcp", rater_balancer)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Print("Cannot contact the balancer!")
+		log.Print("Cannot contact the balancer!", err)
 		exitChan <- true
 		return
 	}