diff --git a/executor/linux/build.go b/executor/linux/build.go
index 51f1a56a..ed87ed95 100644
--- a/executor/linux/build.go
+++ b/executor/linux/build.go
@@ -271,6 +271,9 @@ func (c *client) AssembleBuild(ctx context.Context) error {
 		s.Detach = true
 
 		c.Logger.Infof("creating %s service", s.Name)
+
+		_log.AppendData([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("> Preparing service image %s...\n", s.Image)))
+
 		// create the service
 		c.err = c.CreateService(ctx, s)
 		if c.err != nil {
@@ -326,6 +329,8 @@ func (c *client) AssembleBuild(ctx context.Context) error {
 			continue
 		}
 
+		_log.AppendData([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("> Preparing step image %s...\n", s.Image)))
+
 		c.Logger.Infof("creating %s step", s.Name)
 		// create the step
 		c.err = c.CreateStep(ctx, s)
diff --git a/executor/linux/stage.go b/executor/linux/stage.go
index 044c5c2d..83dacf0c 100644
--- a/executor/linux/stage.go
+++ b/executor/linux/stage.go
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ func (c *client) CreateStage(ctx context.Context, s *pipeline.Stage) error {
 		// update the container environment with stage name
 		_step.Environment["VELA_STEP_STAGE"] = s.Name
 
+		_log.AppendData([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("> Preparing step image %s...\n", _step.Image)))
+
 		logger.Debugf("creating %s step", _step.Name)
 		// create the step
 		err := c.CreateStep(ctx, _step)
diff --git a/executor/local/build.go b/executor/local/build.go
index 9eb13db2..c3d9e196 100644
--- a/executor/local/build.go
+++ b/executor/local/build.go
@@ -167,6 +167,8 @@ func (c *client) AssembleBuild(ctx context.Context) error {
 		// TODO: remove this; but we need it for tests
 		_service.Detach = true
 
+		fmt.Fprintln(c.stdout, _pattern, fmt.Sprintf("> Preparing service image %s...", _service.Image))
+
 		// create the service
 		c.err = c.CreateService(ctx, _service)
 		if c.err != nil {
@@ -213,6 +215,8 @@ func (c *client) AssembleBuild(ctx context.Context) error {
 			continue
 		}
 
+		fmt.Fprintln(c.stdout, _pattern, fmt.Sprintf("> Preparing step image %s...", _step.Image))
+
 		// create the step
 		c.err = c.CreateStep(ctx, _step)
 		if c.err != nil {
diff --git a/executor/local/stage.go b/executor/local/stage.go
index c8edfdce..7a4edab1 100644
--- a/executor/local/stage.go
+++ b/executor/local/stage.go
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ func (c *client) CreateStage(ctx context.Context, s *pipeline.Stage) error {
 		// update the container environment with stage name
 		_step.Environment["VELA_STEP_STAGE"] = s.Name
 
+		fmt.Fprintln(c.stdout, _pattern, fmt.Sprintf("> Preparing step image %s...", _step.Image))
+
 		// create the step
 		err := c.CreateStep(ctx, _step)
 		if err != nil {