diff --git a/modules/setting/setting.go b/modules/setting/setting.go
index 4183c203ed0..714015c4758 100644
--- a/modules/setting/setting.go
+++ b/modules/setting/setting.go
@@ -511,6 +511,7 @@ func SetCustomPathAndConf(providedCustom, providedConf, providedWorkPath string)
 		CustomConf = path.Join(CustomPath, "conf/app.ini")
 	} else if !filepath.IsAbs(CustomConf) {
 		CustomConf = path.Join(CustomPath, CustomConf)
+		log.Warn("Using 'custom' directory as relative origin for configuration file: '%s'", CustomConf)
 	}
 }