diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 3bb3dd23..3f4c53dd 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 2.3.1 (2012-12-16 12:35:38) dev
+Version 2.3.1 (2012-12-17 08:45:52) dev
diff --git a/gluon/fileutils.py b/gluon/fileutils.py
index 659419d3..313af4fd 100644
--- a/gluon/fileutils.py
+++ b/gluon/fileutils.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import tarfile
 import glob
 import time
 import datetime
+import logging
 from http import HTTP
 from gzip import open as gzopen
 
@@ -240,19 +241,20 @@ def w2p_pack(filename, path, compiled=False):
     tarfp.close()
     os.unlink(tarname)
 
-
-def w2p_unpack(filename, path, delete_tar=True):
-
-    if filename=='welcome.w2p' and (
-        not os.path.exists('welcome.w2p') or \
-            os.path.exists('NEWINSTALL')):
+def create_welcome_w2p():
+    if not os.path.exists('welcome.w2p') or os.path.exists('NEWINSTALL'):
         try:
             w2p_pack('welcome.w2p', 'applications/welcome')
             os.unlink('NEWINSTALL')
+            logging.info("New installation: created welcome.w2p file")
         except:
-            msg = "New installation: unable to create welcome.w2p file"
-            sys.stderr.write(msg)
+            logging.error("New installation error: unable to create welcome.w2p file")
 
+
+def w2p_unpack(filename, path, delete_tar=True):
+
+    if filename=='welcome.w2p':
+        create_welcome_w2p()
     filename = abspath(filename)
     path = abspath(path)
     if filename[-4:] == '.w2p' or filename[-3:] == '.gz':
diff --git a/gluon/widget.py b/gluon/widget.py
index bc9649c4..df279372 100644
--- a/gluon/widget.py
+++ b/gluon/widget.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import newcron
 import getpass
 import main
 
-from fileutils import w2p_pack, read_file, write_file
+from fileutils import w2p_pack, read_file, write_file, create_welcome_w2p
 from settings import global_settings
 from shell import run, test
 from utils import is_valid_ip_address, is_loopback_ip_address
@@ -969,6 +969,8 @@ def console():
     if options.numthreads is not None and options.minthreads is None:
         options.minthreads = options.numthreads  # legacy
 
+    create_welcome_w2p()
+
     if not options.cronjob:
         # If we have the applications package or if we should upgrade
         if not os.path.exists('applications/__init__.py'):