diff --git a/config.ini.sample b/config.ini.sample
index 4626cb5..61937fd 100644
--- a/config.ini.sample
+++ b/config.ini.sample
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ threads = 10
 timeout = 15
 submit_after = 200
 use_ssl = false
+debug = false
 
 [proxyfind]
 search = true
diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index ccb254d..3aa867f 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ def load():
 	timeout = parser.getint('watcherd', 'timeout')
 	submit_after = parser.getint('watcherd', 'submit_after')
 	use_ssl = parser.getboolean('watcherd', 'use_ssl')
+	global watchd_debug
+	watchd_debug = parser.getboolean('watcherd', 'debug')
 
 	# allow overriding select items from the commandline
 	import argparse
diff --git a/proxywatchd.py b/proxywatchd.py
index f2a6c35..cae1c9d 100644
--- a/proxywatchd.py
+++ b/proxywatchd.py
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ class WorkerJob():
 				sock.send('%s\n' % random.choice(['NICK', 'USER', 'JOIN', 'MODE', 'PART', 'INVITE', 'KNOCK', 'WHOIS', 'WHO', 'NOTICE', 'PRIVMSG', 'PING', 'QUIT']))
 				return sock, proto, duration, torhost, srv, 0
 			except rocksock.RocksockException as e:
+				if config.watchd_debug:
+					_log("proxy failed: %s://%s: %s"%(proto, self.proxy, e.get_errormessage()), 'debug')
+
 				et = e.get_errortype()
 				err = e.get_error()
 				fp = e.get_failedproxy()