diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 9f81ddd..fa5b785 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@ DATABASE_URL="postgresql://kord:password@localhost:5432/kord_db?schema=public"
 # Logging (log4js — file only under LOG_DIR, no console appender)
 # Levels: trace, debug, info, warn, error, fatal
 LOG_LEVEL=info
-# Daily log files; keep 7 rotated days (see logger.ts)
+# Daily log files; keep 7 rotated days (see logger.ts). Directory is created at startup if missing.
 LOG_DIR=logs
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/utils/logger.ts b/src/utils/logger.ts
index 04d51b1..67e53d2 100644
--- a/src/utils/logger.ts
+++ b/src/utils/logger.ts
@@ -14,10 +14,20 @@ function resolveLogLevel(): LogLevel {
   return (LOG_LEVELS as readonly string[]).includes(raw) ? (raw as LogLevel) : 'info';
 }
 
-const logDir = resolve(process.env.LOG_DIR || 'logs');
+function ensureLogDir(dir: string): void {
+  try {
+    mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
+  } catch (err) {
+    const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    process.stderr.write(`[kord] Failed to create LOG_DIR "${dir}": ${msg}\n`);
+    throw err;
+  }
+}
+
+const logDir = resolve((process.env.LOG_DIR || 'logs').trim());
 const level = resolveLogLevel();
 
-mkdirSync(logDir, { recursive: true });
+ensureLogDir(logDir);
 
 log4js.configure({
   appenders: {