diff --git a/site_ansto/instrument/config/motors/sct_aerotech_soloist.tcl b/site_ansto/instrument/config/motors/sct_aerotech_soloist.tcl
index 07fb8ae1..c39a5790 100644
--- a/site_ansto/instrument/config/motors/sct_aerotech_soloist.tcl
+++ b/site_ansto/instrument/config/motors/sct_aerotech_soloist.tcl
@@ -22,14 +22,17 @@ namespace eval ::scobj::[set vendor]_[set device] {
 
   proc debug_log {debug_level arg_string} {
     # write a timestamped string message to a log file for debugging
-    set debug_threshold 0
-    if {$debug_level >= $debug_threshold} {
-      set fd [open "[set [namespace current]::log_file]" "a" 0777]
-      set line "[clock format [clock seconds] -format "%T"] $arg_string"
-      puts $fd "$line"
-      puts "debug_log $line"
-      close $fd
-    }
+    set catch_status [ catch {
+      set debug_threshold 0
+      if {$debug_level >= $debug_threshold} {
+        set fd [open "[set [namespace current]::log_file]" "a" 0777]
+        set catch_status [ catch {
+          set line "[clock format [clock seconds] -format "%T"] $arg_string"
+          puts $fd "$line"
+      	} catch_message ]
+        close $fd
+      }
+    } catch_message ]
   }
 
   proc basename {node} {
@@ -308,6 +311,8 @@ namespace eval ::scobj::[set vendor]_[set device] {
     ###puts "[ns]::device [set [ns]::device]"
     ###puts "[ns]::ven_dev [set [ns]::ven_dev]"
     set [ns]::log_file "/tmp/[set [ns]::ven_dev]_[set name].log"
+    set fd [open "[set [namespace current]::log_file]" "w" 0777]
+    close $fd
     debug_log 1 "add_[set [ns]::vendor]_[set [ns]::device] ${name} ${IP} ${port} ${_tol}"
     if {[SplitReply [environment_simulation]]=="false"} {
       debug_log 1 "makesctcontroller sct_${name} std ${IP}:${port}"