diff --git a/classes.py b/classes.py
index 2cf0218..53c8702 100644
--- a/classes.py
+++ b/classes.py
@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ class PyLinkNetworkCore(utils.DeprecatedAttributesObject, utils.CamelCaseToSnake
 
         try:
             self.validate_server_conf()
-        except AssertionError as e:
-            log.exception("(%s) Configuration error: %s", self.name, e)
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.error("(%s) Configuration error: %s", self.name, e)
             raise
 
     def _run_autoconnect(self):
diff --git a/protocols/ircs2s_common.py b/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
index 77ef471..679b5c6 100644
--- a/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
+++ b/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class IRCCommonProtocol(IRCNetwork):
     def validate_server_conf(self):
         """Validates that the server block given contains the required keys."""
         for k in self.conf_keys:
+            log.debug('(%s) Checking presence of conf key %r', self.name, k)
             conf.validate(k in self.serverdata,
                      "Missing option %r in server block for network %s."
                      % (k, self.name))