diff --git a/src/build/configure.jam b/src/build/configure.jam
index b5d85c456..751d432b7 100644
--- a/src/build/configure.jam
+++ b/src/build/configure.jam
@@ -448,7 +448,11 @@ rule find-builds ( what : properties * : * )
 rule set-log-file ( log-file )
 {
     path.makedirs [ path.parent $(log-file) ] ;
-    .log-fd = [ FILE_OPEN $(log-file) : "w" ] ;
+    .log-fd = [ FILE_OPEN [ path.native $(log-file) ] : "w" ] ;
+    if ! $(.log-fd)
+    {
+        ECHO "warning:" failed to open log file $(log-file) for writing ;
+    }
 }