diff --git a/lib-src/etags.c b/lib-src/etags.c
index 1d0fa292079..df51c0b4f82 100644
--- a/lib-src/etags.c
+++ b/lib-src/etags.c
@@ -6553,9 +6553,16 @@ regex_tag_multiline (void)
 	      else /* make a named tag */
 		name = substitute (buffer, rp->name, &rp->regs);
 	      if (rp->force_explicit_name)
-		/* Force explicit tag name, if a name is there. */
-		pfnote (name, true, buffer + linecharno,
-			charno - linecharno + 1, lineno, linecharno);
+		{
+		  /* Force explicit tag name, if a name is there. */
+		  pfnote (name, true, buffer + linecharno,
+			  charno - linecharno + 1, lineno, linecharno);
+
+		  if (debug)
+		    fprintf (stderr, "%s on %s:%d: %s\n",
+			     name ? name : "(unnamed)", curfdp->taggedfname,
+			     lineno, buffer + linecharno);
+		}
 	      else
 		make_tag (name, strlen (name), true, buffer + linecharno,
 			  charno - linecharno + 1, lineno, linecharno);
@@ -6876,8 +6883,14 @@ readline (linebuffer *lbp, FILE *stream)
 	      else /* make a named tag */
 		name = substitute (lbp->buffer, rp->name, &rp->regs);
 	      if (rp->force_explicit_name)
-		/* Force explicit tag name, if a name is there. */
-		pfnote (name, true, lbp->buffer, match, lineno, linecharno);
+		{
+		  /* Force explicit tag name, if a name is there. */
+		  pfnote (name, true, lbp->buffer, match, lineno, linecharno);
+		  if (debug)
+		    fprintf (stderr, "%s on %s:%d: %s\n",
+			     name ? name : "(unnamed)", curfdp->taggedfname,
+			     lineno, lbp->buffer);
+		}
 	      else
 		make_tag (name, strlen (name), true,
 			  lbp->buffer, match, lineno, linecharno);