diff --git a/plugins/out_azure_blob/azure_blob.c b/plugins/out_azure_blob/azure_blob.c
index 98a1ff8807f..c13da85204d 100644
--- a/plugins/out_azure_blob/azure_blob.c
+++ b/plugins/out_azure_blob/azure_blob.c
@@ -517,7 +517,9 @@ static int create_container(struct flb_azure_blob *ctx, char *name)
 /*
  * Check that the container exists, if it doesn't and the configuration property
  * auto_create_container is enabled, it will send a request to create it. If it
- * could not be created or auto_create_container is disabled, it returns FLB_FALSE.
+ * could not be created, it returns FLB_FALSE.
+ * If auto_create_container is disabled, it will return FLB_TRUE assuming the container
+ * already exists.
  */
 static int ensure_container(struct flb_azure_blob *ctx)
 {
@@ -528,8 +530,15 @@ static int ensure_container(struct flb_azure_blob *ctx)
     struct flb_http_client *c;
     struct flb_connection *u_conn;
 
+    if (!ctx->auto_create_container) {
+        flb_plg_info(ctx->ins, "auto_create_container is disabled, assuming container '%s' already exists",
+                     ctx->container_name);
+        return FLB_TRUE;
+    }
+
     uri = azb_uri_ensure_or_create_container(ctx);
     if (!uri) {
+        flb_plg_error(ctx->ins, "cannot create container URI");
         return FLB_FALSE;
     }
 
@@ -582,8 +591,17 @@ static int ensure_container(struct flb_azure_blob *ctx)
         return ret;
     }
     else if (status == 200) {
+        flb_plg_info(ctx->ins, "container '%s' already exists", ctx->container_name);
         return FLB_TRUE;
+    } 
+    else if (status == 403) {
+        flb_plg_error(ctx->ins, "failed getting container '%s', access denied",
+                      ctx->container_name);
+        return FLB_FALSE;
     }
+    
+    flb_plg_error(ctx->ins, "get container request failed, status=%i",
+                  status);
 
     return FLB_FALSE;
 }