diff --git a/arangod/Agency/AgencyComm.cpp b/arangod/Agency/AgencyComm.cpp
index 972ded7eeb..ac0a6c18f3 100644
--- a/arangod/Agency/AgencyComm.cpp
+++ b/arangod/Agency/AgencyComm.cpp
@@ -1533,7 +1533,8 @@ AgencyCommResult AgencyComm::send(
   if (cc == nullptr) {
     // nullptr only happens during controlled shutdown
     result._message = "could not send request to agency because of shutdown";
-    LOG_TOPIC(TRACE, Logger::AGENCYCOMM) << "could not send request to agency";
+    LOG_TOPIC(TRACE, Logger::AGENCYCOMM)
+      << "could not send request to agency because of shutdown";
 
     return result;
   }