diff --git a/cmd/influxd/main.go b/cmd/influxd/main.go
index a8d54bc442..cd7d6411ed 100644
--- a/cmd/influxd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/influxd/main.go
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ const (
 func main() {
 	log.SetFlags(0)
 
+	// If commit not set, make that clear.
+	if commit == "" {
+		commit = "unknown"
+	}
+
 	// Shift binary name off argument list.
 	args := os.Args[1:]
 
diff --git a/cmd/influxd/run.go b/cmd/influxd/run.go
index ecb2e9ad4a..2b14274f2d 100644
--- a/cmd/influxd/run.go
+++ b/cmd/influxd/run.go
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 func Run(config *Config, join, version string, logWriter *os.File) (*messaging.Broker, *influxdb.Server) {
+	log.Printf("influxdb started, version %s, commit %s", version, commit)
+
 	// Parse the configuration and determine if a broker and/or server exist.
 	configExists := config != nil
 	if config == nil {