diff --git a/www-api/app/Models/BackendModel.php b/www-api/app/Models/BackendModel.php
index 4989d23f..0f10b66a 100644
--- a/www-api/app/Models/BackendModel.php
+++ b/www-api/app/Models/BackendModel.php
@@ -23,24 +23,28 @@ class BackendModel extends Model
 
     public function wrenchboard_api($in, &$out = array()) {
         log_message('critical', "wrenchboard_api-STARTING" );
+        $ret = -1;
 
         $this->wrenchboard_load();
         if (!is_array($in)) {
             $in = array();
         }
+
         if (!is_array($out)) {
             $out = array();
         }
+
         if (self::DEBUG_API_CALLS) {
             $stack = debug_backtrace();
 
             $log = json_encode($stack);
-            log_message('critical', "wrenchboard_api-FAIL".serialize($log) );
-            error_log($log);
+            log_message('critical', "wrenchboard_api-FAIL".$log );
+
             error_log(json_encode($in));
         }
 
         $ret = $this->wrenchboard->wrenchboard_api($in, $out);
+
         return $ret;
     }