diff --git a/bin/log4j2.xml b/bin/log4j2.xml
index 47b012f2cf..feb8954d56 100644
--- a/bin/log4j2.xml
+++ b/bin/log4j2.xml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
   ~ limitations under the License.
   -->
 
-<Configuration status="WARN" packages="org.apache.jmeter.gui.logging">
+<Configuration status="WARN">
 
   <Appenders>
     <!-- Uncomment to set rotating logs up to 5 files of 100 MB-->
diff --git a/src/core/build.gradle.kts b/src/core/build.gradle.kts
index 38fa682e8e..98141cdcab 100644
--- a/src/core/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/src/core/build.gradle.kts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 import com.github.autostyle.gradle.AutostyleTask
 import com.github.vlsi.gradle.ide.IdeExtension
+import java.util.jar.JarFile
 
 plugins {
     id("java-test-fixtures")
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ dependencies {
     api("org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core") {
         because("GuiLogEventAppender is using log4j-core to implement GUI-based log appender")
     }
+    kapt("org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core") {
+        because("Generates a plugin cache file for GuiLogEventAppender")
+    }
     api("org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-slf4j-impl") {
         because("Both log4j and slf4j are included, so it makes sense to just add log4j->slf4j bridge as well")
     }
@@ -188,3 +192,16 @@ tasks.jar {
         from("$rootDir/xdocs/images/logo.svg")
     }
 }
+
+// Checks the generated JAR for a Log4j plugin cache file.
+tasks.jar {
+    doLast {
+        val jarFile = archiveFile.get().asFile
+        JarFile(jarFile).use { jar ->
+            val entryName = "META-INF/org/apache/logging/log4j/core/config/plugins/Log4j2Plugins.dat"
+            if (jar.getJarEntry(entryName) == null) {
+                throw IllegalStateException("$entryName was not found in $jarFile. The entry should be generated by log4j-core annotation processor")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}