diff --git a/ocis-pkg/log/log.go b/ocis-pkg/log/log.go
index 72e880b1cc..8b95d0fe49 100644
--- a/ocis-pkg/log/log.go
+++ b/ocis-pkg/log/log.go
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ func NewLogger(opts ...Option) Logger {
 	} else if options.File != "" {
 		f, err := os.OpenFile(options.File, os.O_CREATE|os.O_APPEND|os.O_RDWR, 0644)
 		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
+			print(fmt.Sprintf("file could not be opened for writing: %s. error: %v", options.File, err))
+			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 		logger = logger.Output(f)
 	} else {