diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/DefaultLogger.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/DefaultLogger.java
index ad58f34b7..5bee54f74 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/DefaultLogger.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/DefaultLogger.java
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ public class DefaultLogger implements BuildListener {
 
     private PrintStream out;
     private int msgOutputLevel;
-    private long startTime;
+    private long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
+
 
     /**
      *  Constructs a new logger which will write to the specified
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Main.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Main.java
index 816b6a2f8..475d99b01 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Main.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Main.java
@@ -238,12 +238,13 @@ public class Main {
         }
 
         Project project = new Project();
-        addBuildListeners(project);
-        project.fireBuildStarted();
 
         Throwable error = null;
 
         try {
+            addBuildListeners(project);
+            project.fireBuildStarted();
+            
             project.init();
 
             // set user-define properties
@@ -303,7 +304,7 @@ public class Main {
                 project.addBuildListener(listener);
             }
             catch(Exception exc) {
-                throw new BuildException("Unable to instantiate " + className, exc);
+                throw new BuildException("Unable to instantiate listener " + className, exc);
             }
         }
     }