diff --git a/check_router_reboot.jl b/check_router_reboot.jl
index 8e6ba9b..12ad568 100644
--- a/check_router_reboot.jl
+++ b/check_router_reboot.jl
@@ -270,6 +270,12 @@ end
 
 # Main loop: runs indefinitely every CHECK_INTERVAL_SECS
 function main_loop()
+    # Ensure log file exists
+    if !isfile(LogFilePath)
+        open(LogFilePath, "a") do io
+            # create empty file
+        end
+    end
     # limit  log file to latest 100 events
     limitTextFileLines(LogFilePath; maxlines=100)
     thisFilePath = @__FILE__ 
diff --git a/check_router_reboot_log.txt b/check_router_reboot_log.txt
index 10972c3..f40773e 100644
--- a/check_router_reboot_log.txt
+++ b/check_router_reboot_log.txt
@@ -22,3 +22,4 @@
 [2026-03-11T16:27:47.181] Starting check loop. Checking router 192.168.88.1 every 60 seconds.
 [2026-03-11T16:30:28.572] Starting check loop. Checking router 192.168.88.1 every 60 seconds.
 [2026-03-11T16:43:50.213] Starting check loop. Checking router 192.168.88.1 every 60 seconds.
+[2026-03-11T17:37:15.954] Starting check loop. Checking router 192.168.88.1 every 60 seconds.
diff --git a/check_yiem_website_reboot.jl b/check_yiem_website_reboot.jl
index e58df27..ccecfde 100644
--- a/check_yiem_website_reboot.jl
+++ b/check_yiem_website_reboot.jl
@@ -257,6 +257,12 @@ end
 
 # Main loop: runs indefinitely every CHECK_INTERVAL_SECS
 function main_loop()
+    # Ensure log file exists
+    if !isfile(LogFilePath)
+        open(LogFilePath, "a") do io
+            # create empty file
+        end
+    end
     # limit  log file to latest 100 events
     limitTextFileLines(LogFilePath; maxlines=100)
     thisFilePath = @__FILE__