diff --git a/src/preferences/preferences.hpp b/src/preferences/preferences.hpp
index fa00c8301641f..0893dff51e46d 100644
--- a/src/preferences/preferences.hpp
+++ b/src/preferences/preferences.hpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 */
 
 #pragma once
-
+#include "log.hpp"
 #include "config.hpp"
 #include "filesystem.hpp"
 #include "game_config.hpp"
@@ -207,7 +207,8 @@ class prefs
 			//            macos -  called "unit_tests"
 			//            others - called "boost_unit_tests"
 			static bool called_before_init = !(filesystem::base_name(filesystem::get_exe_path()).find("unit_tests") == std::string::npos && !filesystem::is_userdata_initialized());
-			assert(called_before_init && filesystem::get_exe_path().c_str());
+			PLAIN_LOG << filesystem::base_name(filesystem::get_exe_path());
+			assert(called_before_init && "Attempt to use preferences before userdata initialization");
 
 			static prefs prefs_manager;
 			return prefs_manager;