diff --git a/io.github.mightycreak.Diffuse.yml b/io.github.mightycreak.Diffuse.yml
index 0fdea81..914fef1 100644
--- a/io.github.mightycreak.Diffuse.yml
+++ b/io.github.mightycreak.Diffuse.yml
@@ -4,16 +4,18 @@ runtime-version: '3.38'
 sdk: org.gnome.Sdk
 command: diffuse
 finish-args:
+  - --filesystem=home
+  - --share=ipc
   - --socket=wayland
   - --socket=fallback-x11
-  - --share=ipc
-  - --filesystem=home
   - --talk-name=org.freedesktop.Flatpak
 modules:
   - name: diffuse
     builddir: true
     buildsystem: meson
     config-opts:
+      - -Dlog_print_output=true
+      - -Dlog_print_stack=true
       - -Duse_flatpak=true
     sources:
       - type: dir
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 6857b44..0f4bed8 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
+option('log_print_output', type: 'boolean', value: false)
+option('log_print_stack', type: 'boolean', value: false)
 option('use_flatpak', type: 'boolean', value: false)
diff --git a/src/constants.py.in b/src/constants.py.in
index d5d4e77..0cae624 100644
--- a/src/constants.py.in
+++ b/src/constants.py.in
@@ -24,4 +24,7 @@ COPYRIGHT =  '''{copyright} © 2006-2019 Derrick Moser
 WEBSITE = 'https://mightycreak.github.io/diffuse/'
 
 sysconfigdir = '@sysconfigdir@'
+
 use_flatpak = @use_flatpak@
+log_print_output = @log_print_output@
+log_print_stack = @log_print_stack@
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index f5e5ad7..d463101 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ conf.set('VERSION', meson.project_version())
 conf.set('localedir', join_paths(get_option('prefix'), get_option('localedir')))
 conf.set('pkgdatadir', pkgdatadir)
 conf.set('sysconfigdir', sysconfdir)
+conf.set('log_print_output', get_option('log_print_output'))
+conf.set('log_print_stack', get_option('log_print_stack'))
 conf.set('use_flatpak', get_option('use_flatpak'))
 
 configure_file(
diff --git a/src/utils.py b/src/utils.py
index f9554f2..dbd2fdd 100644
--- a/src/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 import locale
 import subprocess
+import traceback
 
 import gi
 
@@ -43,12 +44,19 @@ class MessageDialog(Gtk.MessageDialog):
 def isWindows():
     return os.name == 'nt'
 
+def _logPrintOutput(msg):
+    if constants.log_print_output:
+        print(msg, file=sys.stderr)
+        if constants.log_print_stack:
+            traceback.print_stack()
+
 # convenience function to display debug messages
 def logDebug(s):
-    pass #sys.stderr.write(f'{constants.APP_NAME}: {s}\n')
+    _logPrintOutput(f'DEBUG: {s}')
 
 # report error messages
 def logError(s):
+    _logPrintOutput(f'ERROR: {s}')
     m = MessageDialog(None, Gtk.MessageType.ERROR, s)
     m.run()
     m.destroy()