diff --git a/jaas/modules/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/jaas/modules/ldap/LDAPLoginModule.java b/jaas/modules/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/jaas/modules/ldap/LDAPLoginModule.java
index b865bc6..94086ac 100644
--- a/jaas/modules/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/jaas/modules/ldap/LDAPLoginModule.java
+++ b/jaas/modules/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/jaas/modules/ldap/LDAPLoginModule.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import javax.naming.Context;
+import javax.naming.CommunicationException;
 import javax.naming.NamingEnumeration;
 import javax.naming.directory.*;
 import javax.net.ssl.SSLSocketFactory;
@@ -271,6 +272,13 @@ public class LDAPLoginModule extends AbstractKarafLoginModule {
             }
             userDN = userDnAndNamespace[0];
             userDNNamespace = userDnAndNamespace[1];
+        } catch (CommunicationException ce) {
+            // explicitly catch CommunicationException as it my wrap a lower level root cause.
+            String rootCause = null;
+            if ( ce.getRootCause() != null) 
+            rootCause = ce.getRootCause().getMessage();
+            logger.warn("Can't connect to the LDAP server: " + ce.getMessage()  + " " + rootCause);
+            throw new LoginException("Can't connect to the LDAP server: " + ce.getMessage());
         } catch (Exception e) {
             throw new LoginException("Can't connect to the LDAP server: " + e.getMessage());
         }