diff --git a/etcdmain/main.go b/etcdmain/main.go
index 076c04c2e..5d911fbe3 100644
--- a/etcdmain/main.go
+++ b/etcdmain/main.go
@@ -47,10 +47,14 @@ func Main() {
 }
 
 func notifySystemd(lg *zap.Logger) {
+	if lg == nil {
+		lg = zap.NewExample()
+	}
+	lg.Info("notifying init daemon")
 	_, err := daemon.SdNotify(false, daemon.SdNotifyReady)
 	if err != nil {
-		if lg != nil {
-			lg.Error("failed to notify systemd for readiness", zap.Error(err))
-		}
+		lg.Error("failed to notify systemd for readiness", zap.Error(err))
+		return
 	}
+	lg.Info("successfully notified init daemon")
 }