diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a617d0b..052bb96 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## Changes 10/7/2025 (no new version)
+
+feat(start.sh): stream Apache logs to console + startup polish
+
+- Tail /var/www/metadata/log/{access,error}.log to container stdout (STREAM_LOGS=true by default)
+- Ensure log/session dirs exist with sane perms; no port/vhost changes
+- Keep Apache in foreground; clearer startup message
+
 ## Changes 10/6/2025 v1.3.15
 
 feat/perf: large-file handling, faster file list, richer CodeMirror modes (fixes #48)
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 37c65a1..c268a42 100644
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ mkdir -p /var/www/metadata/log
 chown www-data:www-data /var/www/metadata/log
 chmod 775 /var/www/metadata/log
 
+: > /var/www/metadata/log/access.log
+: > /var/www/metadata/log/error.log
+chown www-data:www-data /var/www/metadata/log/access.log /var/www/metadata/log/error.log
+chmod 664 /var/www/metadata/log/access.log /var/www/metadata/log/error.log
+
 mkdir -p /var/www/sessions
 chown www-data:www-data /var/www/sessions
 chmod 700 /var/www/sessions
@@ -153,5 +158,13 @@ if [ "${SCAN_ON_START:-}" = "true" ]; then
   fi
 fi
 
-echo "🔥 Starting Apache..."
+# 9.6) Stream Apache logs to the container console (optional toggle)
+if [ "${STREAM_LOGS:-true}" = "true" ]; then
+  echo "[startup] Streaming Apache logs to container console..."
+  # access.log -> STDOUT, error.log -> STDERR
+  tail -n0 -F /var/www/metadata/log/access.log >> /proc/1/fd/1 &
+  tail -n0 -F /var/www/metadata/log/error.log  >> /proc/1/fd/2 &
+fi
+
+echo "✅ Apache starting (foreground). Check container logs for access/error output…"
 exec apachectl -D FOREGROUND