diff --git a/rpc/rpcserver.cpp b/rpc/rpcserver.cpp
index 4bb59b4..af074bd 100644
--- a/rpc/rpcserver.cpp
+++ b/rpc/rpcserver.cpp
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ bool RpcServer::registerService(::google::protobuf::Service *service,
     qDebug("The server is running on %s: %d", 
             qPrintable(serverAddress().toString()),
             serverPort());
+    fprintf(stderr, "Ready to send traffic! Listening on %s:%d ...\n",
+            qPrintable(serverAddress().toString()),
+            serverPort());
+    fflush(stderr);
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/server/drone_main.cpp b/server/drone_main.cpp
index 1916455..089dc8c 100644
--- a/server/drone_main.cpp
+++ b/server/drone_main.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ void NoMsgHandler(QtMsgType type, const QMessageLogContext &context,
 
 void cleanup(int /*signum*/)
 {
+    fprintf(stderr, "\nCleaning up ... (may take a few seconds) ... ");
+    fflush(stderr);
     QCoreApplication::instance()->exit(-1);
 }
 
@@ -54,6 +56,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     int exitCode = 0;
     QCoreApplication app(argc, argv);
 
+    fprintf(stderr, "Starting (will take a few seconds) ...\n");
+    fflush(stderr);
+
     app.setApplicationName("Drone");
     app.setOrganizationName("Ostinato");
 
@@ -113,6 +118,9 @@ _exit:
 
     google::protobuf::ShutdownProtobufLibrary();
 
+    fprintf(stderr, "done.\n");
+    fflush(stderr);
+
     return exitCode;
 }