diff --git a/R/cmd.R b/R/cmd.R
index 9c7e49d..cf01216 100644
--- a/R/cmd.R
+++ b/R/cmd.R
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ louper_create_cloupe <- function(
     return(err(sprintf("cannot find Louper executable at path: '%s'", executable_path)))
   }
 
+  cmd_msg <- sprintf('running command: "%s"', paste(c(executable_path, args), collapse=" "))
+  logMsg(cmd_msg)
+
   status <- system2(command=executable_path, args=args)
 
   if (status == 0) {
diff --git a/R/lib.R b/R/lib.R
index d7645a1..08f3212 100644
--- a/R/lib.R
+++ b/R/lib.R
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ create_loupe <- function(
   }
 
   h5path <- sprintf("%s.h5", tempfile())
+  logMsg("creating temporary hdf5 file:", h5path)
   ok <- create_hdf5(
     count_mat,
     clusters,
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ create_loupe <- function(
     stop(general_err(ok$msg, "creating the temporary hdf5 file"))
   }
 
+  logMsg("invoking louper executable")
   ok <- louper_create_cloupe(
     h5path,
     output_dir=output_dir,