diff --git a/src/client.cpp b/src/client.cpp
index ef3792e..04c1970 100644
--- a/src/client.cpp
+++ b/src/client.cpp
@@ -607,6 +607,9 @@ ContextImpl::ContextImpl(const Config& conf, const evbase& tcp_loop)
         nameServers.emplace_back(saddr, nullptr);
     }
 
+    if(searchDest.empty() && nameServers.empty())
+        log_err_printf(setup, "Client context created with no search destinations.  Nothing much will happen now%s", "\n");
+
     const auto cb([this](const UDPManager::Beacon& msg) {
         onBeacon(msg);
     });