diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/locator/SnitchProperties.java b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/locator/SnitchProperties.java
index 5fcba898e5..be89fcf7f7 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/locator/SnitchProperties.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/locator/SnitchProperties.java
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ public class SnitchProperties
         }
         catch (Exception e)
         {
-            // do not throw exception here, just consider this a incomplete or a empty property file.
-            logger.warn("Unable to read {}", RACKDC_PROPERTY_FILENAME);
+            // do not throw exception here, just consider this an incomplete or an empty property file.
+            logger.warn("Unable to read {}", ((configURL != null) ? configURL : RACKDC_PROPERTY_FILENAME));
         }
         finally
         {