diff --git a/log.c b/log.c
index 70851e0..3ca0dc8 100644
--- a/log.c
+++ b/log.c
@@ -28,14 +28,20 @@ void verbose(const char * fmt, ...) {
     char *msg = NULL;
     va_list ap;
     va_start(ap, fmt);
-    vasprintf(&msg, fmt, ap);
-    va_end(ap);
 
-    if(FORKED) {
-      syslog(LOG_INFO, msg);
+    if(vasprintf(&msg, fmt, ap) >= 0) {
+      va_end(ap);
+
+      if(FORKED) {
+	syslog(LOG_INFO, "%s", msg);
+      }
+      else {
+	fprintf(stderr, "%s", msg);
+      }
     }
     else {
-      fprintf(stderr, msg);
+      fprintf(stderr, "Fatal: could not store log message!\n");
+      exit(1);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/log.h b/log.h
index 7b7a420..29b68f0 100644
--- a/log.h
+++ b/log.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #define _HAVE_LOG_H
 
 #define _WITH_DPRINTF
+#define _GNU_SOURCE
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>