continue;
 
                        ret = entity->ops->link_validate(link);
-                       if (ret < 0 && ret != -ENOIOCTLCMD)
+                       if (ret < 0 && ret != -ENOIOCTLCMD) {
+                               dev_dbg(entity->parent->dev,
+                                       "link validation failed for \"%s\":%u -> \"%s\":%u, error %d\n",
+                                       entity->name, link->source->index,
+                                       link->sink->entity->name,
+                                       link->sink->index, ret);
                                goto error;
+                       }
                }
 
                /* Either no links or validated links are fine. */
 
                if (!bitmap_full(active, entity->num_pads)) {
                        ret = -EPIPE;
+                       dev_dbg(entity->parent->dev,
+                               "\"%s\":%u must be connected by an enabled link\n",
+                               entity->name,
+                               find_first_zero_bit(active, entity->num_pads));
                        goto error;
                }
        }