diff --git a/src/cloudron.js b/src/cloudron.js
index 3a8be0666..02fc5f247 100644
--- a/src/cloudron.js
+++ b/src/cloudron.js
@@ -131,10 +131,13 @@ function initialize(callback) {
     isActivated(function (error, activated) {
         if (error) return callback(error);
 
+        debug('initialize: cloudron %s activated', activated ? '' : 'not');
+
         if (activated) fs.writeFileSync(paths.FIRST_RUN_FILE, 'been there, done that', 'utf8');
 
         if (!fs.existsSync(paths.FIRST_RUN_FILE)) {
             // EE API is sync. do not keep the server waiting
+            debug('initialize: emitting first run event');
             process.nextTick(function () { exports.events.emit(exports.EVENT_FIRST_RUN); });
             fs.writeFileSync(paths.FIRST_RUN_FILE, 'been there, done that', 'utf8');
         }