diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index ad61609..c540b8d 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-2016-08-04
+2016-08-05
 
         * Version 1.2.0 released
         =========================
 
+        Add GLog::is_open() method (#1837)
         Fix invalid pointer problem in GLog copies (#1823)
         Fix GSkyMap::publish() bug for empty sky maps (#1835)
         Fix loss of application name and version (#1835)
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 1c9ee61..3ad2514 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 New Features and Important Changes in GammaLib 1.2.0
 
-4 August 2016
+5 August 2016
 
 
 1. Introduction
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ The following methods have been added:
 - GApplication::log_header1()
 - GApplication::log_header2()
 - GApplication::log_header3()
+- GLog::is_open()
 
 The following methods have been removed:
 - ...
@@ -69,6 +70,9 @@ pointer in the second instance became invalid. This has been fixed by
 duplicating the file descriptor and opening the log file in the copied
 instance using the duplicated descriptor. This solves the problems (#1823).
 
+A GLog::is_open() method has been added to assess whether a log file is
+actually opened (#1837).
+
 
 5. Base module
 --------------
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 99af9c1..08e5f1b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 GammaLib information
 ====================
-* Version: 1.2.0.dev1 (4 August 2016)
+* Version: 1.2.0.dev1 (5 August 2016)
 * Author:  Juergen Knoedlseder (jurgen.knodlseder@irap.omp.eu)
 
 [![Build Status](https://cta-jenkins.irap.omp.eu/buildStatus/icon?job=gammalib-integrate-os)](https://cta-jenkins.irap.omp.eu/job/gammalib-integrate-os/)
diff --git a/include/GLog.hpp b/include/GLog.hpp
index 96c3db2..0723fdf 100644
--- a/include/GLog.hpp
+++ b/include/GLog.hpp
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ public:
     void               clear(void);
     int                size(void) const;
     std::string        classname(void) const;
+    bool               is_open(void) const;
     void               open(const GFilename& filename, const bool& clobber = false);
     void               close(void);
     void               flush(const bool& force = false);
@@ -147,6 +148,18 @@ std::string GLog::classname(void) const
 
 
 /***********************************************************************//**
+ * @brief Signal that log file is open
+ *
+ * @return True if log file is open, false otherwise.
+ ***************************************************************************/
+inline
+bool GLog::is_open(void) const
+{
+    return (m_file != NULL);
+}
+
+
+/***********************************************************************//**
  * @brief Write string as centred header into logger
  *
  * @param[in] arg Header string.
diff --git a/pyext/GLog.i b/pyext/GLog.i
index ae62837..a36d332 100644
--- a/pyext/GLog.i
+++ b/pyext/GLog.i
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ public:
     void               clear(void);
     int                size(void) const;
     std::string        classname(void) const;
+    bool               is_open(void) const;
     void               open(const GFilename& filename, const bool& clobber = false);
     void               close(void);
     void               flush(const bool& force = false);
diff --git a/src/app/GApplication.cpp b/src/app/GApplication.cpp
index b5a4100..6f13ae7 100644
--- a/src/app/GApplication.cpp
+++ b/src/app/GApplication.cpp
@@ -332,7 +332,10 @@ void GApplication::logFileOpen(const bool& clobber)
         // Initialise the application logger
         log.open(log_filename(), clobber);
 
-    }
+        // Write header into log file
+        log_header();
+
+    } // endif: file name was not empty
 
     // Set logger chattiness
     set_log_chatter();
@@ -349,11 +352,16 @@ void GApplication::logFileOpen(const bool& clobber)
  ***************************************************************************/
 void GApplication::logFileClose(void)
 {
-    // Put trailer in log file
-    log_trailer();
+    // Continue only if log file is open
+    if (log.is_open()) {
+    
+        // Write trailer into log file
+        log_trailer();
 
-    // Close log file
-    log.close();
+        // Close log file
+        log.close();
+
+    } // endif: log file was open
 
     // Return
     return;
@@ -872,11 +880,8 @@ void GApplication::free_members(void)
     // Save application parameters
     m_pars.save(par_filename());
 
-    // Put trailer in log file
-    log_trailer();
-
     // Close log file
-    log.close();
+    logFileClose();
 
     // Return
     return;
diff --git a/src/app/GLog.cpp b/src/app/GLog.cpp
index 0e24512..44793c4 100644
--- a/src/app/GLog.cpp
+++ b/src/app/GLog.cpp
@@ -554,9 +554,18 @@ void GLog::init_members(void)
  * @brief Copy class members
  *
  * @param[in] log Logger.
+ *
+ * Copy all class members from @p log to the current logger instance. This
+ * method will flush the buffer of @p log before copying.
  ***************************************************************************/
 void GLog::copy_members(const GLog& log)
 {
+    // Force flushing the buffer before doing the copy. This assures that the
+    // log file is left in a clean state, and in particular, that logging
+    // will be done in order. We have to circument const correctness for
+    // doing this.
+    const_cast<GLog*>(&log)->flush(true);
+
     // Copy attributes
     m_max_length = log.m_max_length;
     m_indent     = log.m_indent;
@@ -644,6 +653,9 @@ void GLog::flush(const bool& force)
 
         } // endwhile: flush until empty
 
+        // And now flush the kernel buffer
+        std::fflush(m_file);
+
     } // endif: flush was required
 
     // Return
diff --git a/test/test_GApplication.cpp b/test/test_GApplication.cpp
index c23389c..aa4af10 100644
--- a/test/test_GApplication.cpp
+++ b/test/test_GApplication.cpp
@@ -381,7 +381,6 @@ void TestGApplication::test_GApplication(void)
                "Check application log file name");
 
     // Write something into the logfile and close it
-    app1.log_header();
     app1.log_string(SILENT, "Silent", false);
     app1.log_string(TERSE, "Terse", false);
     app1.log_string(NORMAL, "Normal", false);