diff --git a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
index 48b1ca9..4e77390 100644
--- a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
+++ b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
@@ -174,6 +174,8 @@ for g in gauges:
 gauge_targets = [g["min"] for g in gauges]  # target value per gauge
 gauge_last_rezero = [utime.ticks_ms() for _ in gauges]
 
+print("DEBUG: gauge config parsed, creating topics...")
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Topics (per-gauge)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -206,6 +208,8 @@ def make_gauge_topics(prefix, gauge_id):
 
 gauge_topics = [make_gauge_topics(MQTT_PREFIX, g["id"]) for g in gauges]
 
+print("DEBUG: topics created successfully")
+
 T_SET = f"{MQTT_PREFIX}/set"
 T_STATE = f"{MQTT_PREFIX}/state"
 T_STATUS = f"{MQTT_PREFIX}/status"
@@ -329,7 +333,9 @@ for g in gauges:
     leds_green.append(Pin(g["green_pin"], Pin.OUT, value=0))
 
 total_backlight_leds = num_gauges * (BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE)
+print(f"DEBUG: initializing NeoPixel on pin {BACKLIGHT_PIN} with {total_backlight_leds} LEDs")
 leds_bl = NeoPixel(Pin(BACKLIGHT_PIN), total_backlight_leds)
+print("DEBUG: NeoPixel initialized")
 
 backlight_color = [(0, 0, 0) for _ in range(num_gauges)]
 backlight_brightness = [100 for _ in range(num_gauges)]
@@ -825,11 +831,14 @@ def publish_state(client):
 
 
 def main():
+    print("DEBUG: main() entered")
     info("=" * 48)
     info("Gauge MQTT controller starting")
     info("=" * 48)
 
+    print("DEBUG: about to connect wifi")
     connect_wifi(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD)
+    print("DEBUG: wifi connected")
 
     info("Zeroing gauges on startup ...")
     for i, g in enumerate(gauge_objects):