diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
index a7be84ea6c..48e6908ea8 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
@@ -470,10 +470,8 @@ namespace OpenRA
 		{
 			try
 			{
-				var argsString = mod.LaunchArgs.Append(launchArguments)
-					.Select(a => "\"" + a + "\"").JoinWith(" ");
-
-				var p = Process.Start(mod.LaunchPath, argsString);
+				var args = launchArguments != null ? mod.LaunchArgs.Append(launchArguments) : mod.LaunchArgs;
+				var p = Process.Start(mod.LaunchPath, args.Select(a => "\"" + a + "\"").JoinWith(" "));
 				if (p == null || p.HasExited)
 					onFailed();
 				else
@@ -482,8 +480,10 @@ namespace OpenRA
 					Exit();
 				}
 			}
-			catch
+			catch (Exception e)
 			{
+				Log.Write("debug", "Failed to switch to external mod.");
+				Log.Write("debug", "Error was: " + e.Message);
 				onFailed();
 			}
 		}