diff --git a/core/src/main/java/hudson/maven/MavenUtil.java b/core/src/main/java/hudson/maven/MavenUtil.java
index ed960245ef7831f0469ae9d73237fb156e4ad535..9d1d4076791e21d936f0e8379991a32414956325 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/hudson/maven/MavenUtil.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/hudson/maven/MavenUtil.java
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ class MavenUtil {
         maven.setLogger( new EmbedderLoggerImpl(listener) );
 
         // make sure ~/.m2 exists to avoid http://www.nabble.com/BUG-Report-tf3401736.html
-        new File( MavenEmbedder.userHome, ".m2" ).mkdirs();
+        File m2Home = new File(MavenEmbedder.userHome, ".m2");
+        m2Home.mkdirs();
+        if(!m2Home.exists())
+            listener.getLogger().println("Failed to create "+m2Home);
 
         maven.start();