diff --git a/patch-control.sh b/patch-control.sh
index 74191e6be37bb4287486bcd8b4f5f5d76016db63..adac644b92b004e1760ed119d0be95d7ec201ef0 100755
--- a/patch-control.sh
+++ b/patch-control.sh
@@ -73,10 +73,9 @@ function dm_driver() {
 }
 
 function log() {
-  [ ! -d ~/.km3_private ] && mkdir -p ~/.km3_private
-  local logfile="~/.km3_private/pc.log"
-  date      >>${logfile}
-  echo ${*} >>${logfile}
+  [ ! -d ${HOME}/.km3_private ] && mkdir -p ${HOME}/.km3_private
+  local logfile="${HOME}/.km3_private/pc.log"
+  echo "$(date): ${*}" >>${logfile}
 }
 
 function nowUTC() {