--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2018/11/06 15:37:37	1.1322
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2018/11/07 19:23:45	1.1323
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.1322 2018/11/06 15:37:37 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.1323 2018/11/07 19:23:45 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -17799,6 +17799,9 @@ sub create_captcha {
             last;
         }
     }
+    if ($output eq '') {
+        &Apache::lonnet::logthis("Failed to create Captcha code after $tries attempts.");
+    }
     return $output;
 }