diff --git a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Essentials.java b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Essentials.java
index c683ac454..6e4664172 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Essentials.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Essentials.java
@@ -148,9 +148,6 @@ public class Essentials extends JavaPlugin implements net.ess3.api.IEssentials {
                     throw new Error("Outdated server. This version of Essentials will only work on Bukkit 1.8 or higher.");
                 }
             }
-            if (serverString.contains(".v1_8_R1.")) {
-                getLogger().warning("Detected Bukkit 1.8.0. Spawners will not work properly until you upgrade to 1.8.3 or higher.");
-            }
             final PluginManager pm = getServer().getPluginManager();
             for (Plugin plugin : pm.getPlugins()) {
                 if (plugin.getDescription().getName().startsWith("Essentials") && !plugin.getDescription().getVersion().equals(this.getDescription().getVersion()) && !plugin.getDescription().getName().equals("EssentialsAntiCheat")) {
diff --git a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/utils/SpawnerUtil.java b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/utils/SpawnerUtil.java
index a57cd901a..1c25c4457 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/utils/SpawnerUtil.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/utils/SpawnerUtil.java
@@ -33,13 +33,14 @@ public class SpawnerUtil {
             ItemStack is = new ItemStack(Material.MOB_SPAWNER, 1);
             ItemMeta meta = is.getItemMeta();
             useMeta = meta instanceof BlockStateMeta;
-        } catch (Exception e) {
+        } catch (Throwable e) {
             useMeta = false;
         }
         if (useMeta) {
             ess.getLogger().info("Using BlockStateMeta for spawners");
         } else {
-            ess.getLogger().info("Using legacy item data for spawners");
+            ess.getLogger().warning("Using legacy item data for spawners");
+            ess.getLogger().warning(ChatColor.RED + "UPGRADE TO SPIGOT 1.8.3 OR HIGHER FOR WORKING SPAWNERS");
         }
     }