diff --git a/python/lsst/pipe/base/caching_limited_butler.py b/python/lsst/pipe/base/caching_limited_butler.py
index 499240fa6..f8f2caaae 100644
--- a/python/lsst/pipe/base/caching_limited_butler.py
+++ b/python/lsst/pipe/base/caching_limited_butler.py
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ def get(
         if cached := self._cache.get(ref.datasetType.name):
             dataset_id, handle = cached
             if dataset_id == ref.id:  # if we do, check it's the right object
+                self.log.debug("Returning cached dataset %s", ref)
                 return handle.get(parameters=parameters, storageClass=storageClass)
 
         obj = self._wrapped.get(ref, parameters=parameters, storageClass=storageClass)
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@ def get(
                     copy=ref.datasetType.name not in self._no_copy_on_cache,
                 ),
             )
+            self.log.debug("Cached dataset %s", ref)
         return obj
 
     def getDeferred(
@@ -161,6 +163,7 @@ def put(self, obj: Any, ref: DatasetRef) -> DatasetRef:
                     copy=ref.datasetType.name not in self._no_copy_on_cache,
                 ),
             )
+            self.log.debug("Cached dataset %s on put", ref)
         return self._wrapped.put(obj, ref)
 
     def pruneDatasets(