diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/base.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/base.py
index 4b2bfee6d..e2ee09284 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/base.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/base.py
@@ -657,6 +657,7 @@ class PkgConfigDependency(ExternalDependency):
             # Fetch the libraries and library paths needed for using this
             self._set_libs()
         except DependencyException as e:
+            mlog.debug("pkg-config error with '%s': %s" % (name, e))
             if self.required:
                 raise
             else: