diff --git a/settings.py b/settings.py
index 35b0db638..5b4242dcc 100644
--- a/settings.py
+++ b/settings.py
@@ -89,13 +89,18 @@ PRIMARY_LOG_DIR = Path("/var/log/troggle")
 FALLBACK_LOG_DIR = "/home/psargent/var-log-troggle"
 log_filename = "troggle.log"
     
-try:
-    PRIMARY_LOG_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    final_log_path = PRIMARY_LOG_DIR / log_filename
-except (PermissionError, OSError):
-    FALLBACK_LOG_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    final_log_path = FALLBACK_LOG_DIR / log_filename
-    print(f"!! Log permission denied at /var/log. Falling back to: {final_log_path}")
+def get_valid_log_path():
+    try:
+        PRIMARY_LOG_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        test_file = PRIMARY_LOG_DIR / ".permissions_test"
+        test_file.touch() # Create a tiny file
+        test_file.unlink() # Delete it
+        return PRIMARY_LOG_DIR / log_filename
+    except (PermissionError, OSError):
+        FALLBACK_LOG_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        return FALLBACK_LOG_DIR / log_filename
+
+final_log_path = get_valid_log_path()
  
 LOGGING = {
     "version": 1,